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The region has seen many bloody battles with invaders from the sea and raiders from Scotland over the centuries. The most famous legacy of this is the Roman Hadrian's Wall, built to keep the "Barbarians" out, but there's also a string of fortresses, castles and manor houses across Northumbria built by wary landowners. You'll also see 'bastles', small thick-walled refuges where families retreated with their cattle when raiders approached. Heavy industry has left its mark on Northumbria where coal and leading mining took place over much of the last 300 years. You can visit lead mines and collieries around the region. Today the far north is an agricultural area and you may be lucky enough to witness the lambing season, a sheepdog trial, the sheep and goat show at Alston or a local flower shows. You'll also see studios and art galleries showing off the work of local arts and crafts people.
Heather-clad hills, wild open moorland, dry stone walls, pine woodlands, green meadows, trickling streams and thundering waterfalls can all be found in the North Pennines National Park, Kielder Water and Forest Park and the Northumberland National Park. You may also see curlew, red squirrels, roe deer, foxes, grouse, buzzards, hares and badgers. It's a great region for walking, cycling, horse riding, bird watching, fishing, rock climbing and water sports. Walkers will enjoy the challenge of long distance paths such as The Pennine Way, St Cuthbert's Way, Cleveland Way, Teesdale Way and the Weardale Way. Cyclists will love the 140-mile Sea to Sea Cycle Route from Newcastle to Whitehaven through the North Pennines. The Reivers Cycle Route goes from Tynemouth to Whitehaven via Kielder Forest Park. There are reservoirs dotted around the parks for fishing and water sports. To the south of the region lies the wilderness of the North Pennines which is dotted with pretty market towns and villages and reminders of the regions lead mining past. Barnard Castle stands on escarpment above River Tees and is one of England's largest medieval castles. The market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland has a Norman Castle and high and low crosses marking the original boundaries of the market. The 300 year old Appleby Horse Fair is held each year in June. The charming villages of Morland and Maulds Meaburn nestle in the Lyvennet Valley nearby. At Middleston-in-Teesdale is the 5,000-acre Hamsterley man made forest which is great for cycling and walking. In the heart of the North Pennines are a series of old lead mining towns where you can still experience underground tunnels and pan for your own lead ore. The town of Nenthead was purpose-built to house the lead workers in the 19th century. It had houses, schools, a public water supply, a public bathhouse and a post office.
The green and rolling Durham Dales are unspoiled and uncrowded and of course medieval Durham City is shrouded in history with its majestic soaring 11th century cathedral, which houses the shrine of the great northern saint, Cuthbert. The Northern life of yesteryear can be experienced at the Beamish Museum at Chester-le-Street. The historic city of Newcastle is famous for its shipbuilding and maritime heritage. A replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour can be seen in the city. The Watergate Country Park to the south of the city is a former colliery which is being reclaimed and turned into public woodlands. Lottie's Wood, east Sunniside, is an 18-hectare wood with paths, woodlands and meadows. Hadrian's Wall, the huge defensive rampart built by the roman Emperor Hadrian nearly 2000 years ago starts at Wallsend and runs about 73 miles to Bowness in the Lake District. It was 5m high when it was built but after the Romans abandoned Britain in the early 400s the wall became derelict and many of the stones were used to build local walls and houses. You can walk for miles along side the wall without seeing a soul. There are various forts and history museums along the route. Kielder Forest Park contains the huge and breathtaking Keilder Water. There are walks, cycle tracks, bridleways and forest trails through pinewoods and along the lakeside. You may see otters and red squirrels and there's birds of prey centre. On the lake there's sailing, yachting, water skiing, canoeing and kayaking. Trout fishing is by permit only - day permits can be purchased. You can view the stunning scenery from the Osprey cruiser, which tours the lake daily. The Northumberland National Park is a wilderness of heather, moorland, waterfalls, castles and hillforts. The brooding Cheviot Hills provide some of the best walking and wildlife. There are long distance trails along old drove roads and ridge paths as well as easier circular routes. There are some great rock climbing areas and also miles of quiet country lanes and bridleways for cyclists and horse riders. Towards the coast are Alnwick castle and 14th century Dunstanburgh Castle with its dramatic coastal views. It's a great area for spotting sea birds and wildlife. Berwick-upon-Tweed is England's most northerly town - it has changed hands 13 times in its turbulent history! Nearby Holy Island is cut off from the main land at high tide and is home to Lindisfarne Priory, founded by the great St Aidan 1300 years ago.
England's far north is a great place to explore with its fascinating history and miles of rugged wilderness countryside. Come to the far north for a holiday you will never forget ……
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