The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria stretched from the Firth of Forth in the north to the Humber on the south. It emerged some two centuries after the Roman Legions left Hadrian’s Wall, and is perhaps best characterised by Northumberland, an unspoilt County of golden sands and a sprinkling of islands… large tracts of the County are within the confines of the Northumberland National Park and other substantial parts are designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty due to some of the finest stretches of coastline in England. It forms part of the Heritage Coastline with Sites of Special Scientific Interest along many areas of the coast. There are miles of sweeping golden sands, rocky outcrops and sand dunes providing an ideal environment for great family days out and exhilarating coastal walks ….. listen to the sound of waves softly breaking across a long, sandy beach. Smell the gentle perfumes of our delightful gardens. Watch the sun set over rolling hills.

The Cradle of Christianity in England and the scene of some of the bloodiest Viking raids, it was also a centre of ancient learning and the setting for merciless Border wars and feuds. Today the County abounds with relics of its ancient past; Castles, Pele Towers, Monasteries, Churches and Roman Forts. Ancient Kingdoms still cast their spell over a breath taking landscape. Dramatic castles rise out of the early morning sea-mist. A walk along Hadrian’s Wall is shared with the memories of a Roman Legionnaire. Mysterious rock carvings in the Cheviot Hills guard a 5,000 year old secret about their origin. Go across the causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, to see the Priory and the castle, and also perhaps to sample some of the Lindisfarne Mead! There is something for everybody; unique bird and seal sanctuaries on the Farne Islands , which can be visited by boat from Seahouses; fine golf courses, many of which are right by the sea; facilities for boating and sailing both on the sea and on the rivers; salmon and trout fishing ; and sea trips with the local fisherman after the occasional mackerel; hunting and shooting over the moors and far away! Kielder Water, Europe’s largest man-made lake and Forest also offers a remarkable sense of freedom and adventure, with miles of walks amongst the trees and all major water sports.

Our traffic free country roads are a joy for all visitors and our 24 golf courses combine wonderful scenery and an unhurried style. Northumberland has more Castles than any other County in Britain, and each one has its own story to tell. Today, the visitor is enable to enjoy the unique heritage throughout the year.

Northumbria has been rightly named the “Holiday Kingdom”. It is a special place to visit, to enjoy and in which to relax. Nevertheless, in the heart of this magnificent countryside, you are only an hour away from historic Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Ponsaelius of the Romans, the Monkchester of the Anglo-Saxons, and the New Castle of the Normans. It is all there museums, theatres, the Eldon Square shopping precinct, and a wide variety of night life, and he Gateshead Metro Centre, the largest shopping complex in Europe. Across the Millenium Bridge is Gateshead with the Baltic Mill arts centre and the new Sage Concert halls rivalling any in the country.

Then there is Durham with its magnificent Norman Cathedral, many would say, the finest in Europe. Nobody holidaying in Northumbria should miss a visit to this great symbol of Heritage England. Built on a bluff and surrounded on three sides by the River Wear, it is the final resting place of St. Cuthbert, the greatest of the Northern Saints, and the “cathedra” of the Prince Bishops of Durham. It has much to say about the rugged spirit of the generations who have peopled the Border.

In the other direction lies the Scottish Border, or as the Scots would call it, the Borders. A part of Northumbria, it was the Northumbrian King Edwin who gave their capital its name – Edinburgh. Visit the sturdy Border towns that lie to the north of the Cheviots – Melrose, Coldstream, Jedburgh, Hawick; names which conjure up memories of the Border Walls. Not so very far beyond lies Edinburgh, an hours train journey away, or under 2 hours by car – surely one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. A day spent visiting the Castle, Holyrood Palace, St. Giles Cathedral, the Royal Mile, Princes Street and so much more, is a memorable occasion.

Alnwick is a main centre, standing on the River Aln. It is a town of great historical interest, and is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Northumberland. Alnwick Castle itself, an integral part of the town, still retains the gateways of its old walls and is a much used film location, including recently the Harry Potter films. The high profile new gardens are like no other in England and Europe – a garden for the 21st Century – and an ever changing composition of sounds, sight, texture and smell. From Alnwick, the River Aln flows some 5 miles down to the sea at Alnmouth, the ancient port of Alnwick and the principal base of NORTHUMBRIA COAST AND COTTAGES LTD.

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