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Northumberland National Park |
The
Northumberland National Park is a treasure which stretches for over 60 miles
from the Cheviots on the border with Scotland to Hadrian's Wall in the Tyne
Valley. It encompasses wooded valleys and open moorland in the country. Everyone
who follows the Country Code is welcome to enjoy the Park. There are three main
valleys in the Cheviots Harthope Valley, the Breamish Valley and Coquetdale.
Northumberland
National Park covers an area of 400 square miles of unspoilt countryside. At
its edge is Kielder Water, the largest man-made lake in Europe within the
largest man made forest in Europe is spectacular bird watching, sailing and
outdoor activities.
To Pennine Way enters the park in the Tyne Valley
with a stretch along Hadrian's Roman Wall before turning north to Kielder Forest
and the moors before rising over Cheviot to Kirk Yeyholm
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Northumberland
National Park is a very special place, a land of big skies and breathtaking
views that run on for miles – it is ‘the Land of the Far Horizons’. Here
you will glimpse wilderness and open landscapes that stir up a deep sense of the
past. It is a place where you can find peace and quiet and escape the stresses
and strains of modern life, or you can find adventure! It’s up to you.
Northumberland
National Park is the most northern National Park in England and stretches from
the Scottish Border in the north to just south of Hadrian’s Wall World
Heritage Site, covering an area of more than 1030 sq. kilometres (400 sq.
miles). It offers some of the best hill walking found anywhere in Britain,
ranging from short leisurely strolls and picturesque village rambles to more
challenging hill and moorland treks. With more than 900 km (600 miles) of way
marked footpaths and bridleways to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice!
The upland
scenery of the Cheviot massif is second to none with the Cheviot itself rising
to 815m (2,674ft). Here and in the Simonside and Harbottle Hills, you can use a
range of self-guided leaflets to explore some of the best-preserved prehistoric
hill forts in Britain, with place names that evoke a time long gone such as
Yeavering Bell, Brough Law and Lordenshaws. The Cheviots also provide some of
the best upland stretches of The Pennine Way, Britain’s best-known National
Trail.
South of the
Cheviot Hills, the pastures and river valleys of the Coquet, Rede and North Tyne
soften the profile. Hidden amongst
this beauty, the remains of medieval castles and bastles (fortified farms)
pepper the landscape, conveying a more sinister legacy, that of the Border
Reivers. This land in the 15th and 16th Centuries was a
buffer between warring kingdoms, a wilderness swept by the fear of Reivers.
These rustlers and thieves terrorised the Borders, pitting family against family
and valley against valley and it marked one of the bloodiest chapters of
Northumbrian history. Today, the remains of castles and restored bastles are
open to public view.
The picturesque
village of Rothbury has its own village trail, riverside and local forest walks
that satisfy the more casual walker. Many other villages such as Otterburn,
Elsdon, Greenhaugh and Falstone are excellent places from which to explore the
National Park. Falstone for example
lies at the east end of Kielder Water and Forest Park and is conveniently close
to all the recreational facilities that the area has to offer (cycling, horse
riding, fishing, walking and water-sports). At the end of the day, why not drop
into a traditional village pub where you may come across live music, a games
night or just a quiet evening when you can join in a friendly chat with the
locals.
Hadrian’s
Wall World Heritage Site, Britain’s longest monument, stretches for 73 miles
across the north of England and the impressive central section lies within
Northumberland National Park. The award winning Hadrian’s Wall Bus service,
that runs between Newcastle and Carlisle until 23rd September stops
at most of the Roman attractions along the Wall as well visiting picturesque
market towns and villages along the way.
A successful
trip starts at home. To get the most from your visit, please make use of our
website at www.nnpa.org.uk
or the Hadrian’s Wall website www.hadrians-wall.org.
Numerous guidebooks and literature available on this treasured landscape such as
Walks in Reiver Country containing
details of circular walks, maps and route descriptions. Free leaflets, transport
information, location of public car parks can be obtained from the National Park
Visitor Centres at Rothbury (01669 620887), Ingram (01665 578248) or Once Brewed
(01434 344396) or visit www.nnpa.org.uk
Northumberland
National Park Authority, Eastburn, Hexham, Northumberland
Northumberland Tourist Board
Lake District National Park
The first notions of a National Park was nurtured
here in Cumbria in 1810 by William Wordsworth famous for his poems wrote a
travel guide to the area in which he lived. It was over a 150 years before
Britain's largest National Park was established, his words attracted
artist's such as Turner, Constable and Gainsborough who put the beauty of
this perspective on canvas followed by the sketches of Alfred Wainwright who
the entire North Country area.
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Yorkshire Dales
National Park
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The limestone hills and Dales of Yorkshire's wool
country covers the moorland dales and the higher Pennine Hills which has
caves for the tourist or amateur caver to the west, with the classic one day
Three Peaks Walk covers 26 miles is also in the region. History is found in
the place names in the dales with Norse names such as gill or beck
for stream plus fell and foss for hill and waterfall to
mention a few with Anglian, Celtic and Danish name present across the
region.
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North York Moors
National Park
The pink heather covered North York Moors
are encompassed by the Cleveland Hills to the west and Whitby on the craggy
coastline to the east. Nestled in the centre is the North Yorkshire Moors
Railway, known as Harry Potter's Hogwart Express which passes through Goathland
which is the backdrop for the Heartbeat drama series set in the sixties. It is
also encompassed by the Cleveland Way a long distance walk which run north up
the Cleveland Hills to Saltburn then South following the coast through Scarborough
to Filey,
their is also the Lyke Wake Walk a 40 mile test of endurance across peat
moorland to be completed in 24 hours.
Peak District National Park
The Peak District was the first of the
eleven areas of the British Isles to be designated a National Park in 1951, an
area nestled between the heavy industrial cities of the Midlands which feed of
the mineral resources of the hills.
Being the southern end of the Pennines a
chain of hills which form the back bone of Britain running north to the Cheviot
Border hills some 250 miles north. The Pennine Way a long distance footpath
starts in Edale and winds its way through some of the most beautiful and
desolate countryside.
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