![]() ![]() This most picturesque village, often used for film sets, was built from the remains of a 12th century abbey and is surrounded by some the region’s most spectacular and unspoilt countryside. Teeming with wildlife (as a Special Area of Conservation), the distinctive ridge stands guard above Rothbury and boasts 360 degree views across the Cheviot Hills and North Sea coastline. There are few vistas more spectacularly and quintessentially Northumbrian than that of the Simonside Hills. As one of the largest and grandest fortifications in Northern England, it’s a must on any Northumbrian adventure. The iconic ruined Dunstanburgh Castle, with one of the only three-storey keeps ever built, stands as a sentinel looking over the North Sea and the large sandy bay of Embleton. Sitting 45 metres above the sea, Bamburgh Castle was built in approximately 500AD and has witnessed many pivotal moments in British history, from the Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Viking invasions to the Wars of the Roses. No trip to this stretch of the Northumberland coastline would be complete without a visit to the impressive castle that once protected our shores. Farne IslandsĪnimal fans rejoice: puffins, guillemots, eider ducks, razorbills, terns, grey seals (and their annual litter of about 1,000 pups), and, if you’re lucky, maybe a dolphin, porpoise or even a minke whale could pop up and say hello on these zoologically-diverse islands. See the 12th Century priory and, rising from the sheer rock face at the tip of the island, Lindisfarne Castle. Both an island and a picturesque village, Holy Island carries a wealth of history within its tidal walls. ![]() Lying just a few miles off the Northumberland coast, Holy Island is cut off twice-daily from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides. Similarly, by collaborating with local content creators and photographers when curating their website and instagram page the route has now begun to develop exposure for local talent in the area too.Īlthough the route hopes to encourage us Northerners to explore more of what’s on our doorstep (particularly with overseas travel somewhat limited at present), it’s also aiming to entice visitors from across the world in the same way many of the UK’s iconic driving routes already do. So far NLAND250 have worked with BOX Pizza, Hesleyside Huts and Defender Camping, but are quickly building relationships with businesses big and small who are also passionate about helping spread the word about what Northumberland has to offer. The route organiser has also begun to collaborate with local businesses, meaning you’ll easily find food and drink recommendations, and some of the best places to stay if you’re planning on making a trip of it. Giving you the freedom to explore Northumberland in one trip, whilst travelling on the more scenic roads around the county, it’s a unique adventure that can be completed by car, bike or on foot – as a whistle-stop weekend tour or a three-week adventure holiday. ![]() The new 250 mile route across Northumberland, which takes in Tweedmouth in the North, Kileder in the West, Allenheads in the South, and the majority of Northumberland’s rugged coast, is now free for the public to download.īroken down into four sections – the Northumberland Coast, Cheviot Hills, Dark Skies and North Pennines – it takes in some of Northumberland’s most iconic landmarks (think Bamburgh Castle and Sycamore Gap), as well as the more remote and lesser-known parts of the county. The 35-mile stretch from Alnwick to Lindisfarne, which is featured in Lonely Planet’s Epic Drives of The World (a showcase of 50 of the greatest road trips on Earth), is a popular way to take in Northumberland’s beautiful coast, but if you’re looking to explore the dark skies, chocolate box villages and lesser-known landscapes too, you would (until now) have been hard pressed to find a mapped-out route to help you do so.
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