Northumberland

Northumberland is a ceremonial county in North East England, stretching from the Scottish border to the North Sea coast. Between the moorland Cheviot Hills in the west and the flat coastal strips in the east lie wide forests and open farmland, giving the impression of a thinly settled landscape dotted with small stone villages.

The Romans built Hadrian's Wall through the southern part of the territory to guard the northern frontier of their empire. Later, English and Scottish kings fought over control for centuries, leaving behind many castles and fortifications along the borderlands.

Locals still practice the rapper sword dance, in which performers weave flexible steel blades together in quick patterns to driving tunes. On market days and at festivals you can hear the Northumbrian smallpipes, a quieter and gentler cousin of the bagpipe played at community gatherings throughout the region.

The main route follows the A1 road, linking Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Trains from Newcastle reach several towns in the area, though many coastal sections and walking trails remain difficult to access without your own transport.

Kielder Water is the largest artificial lake in the British Isles and sits in the middle of a sprawling forest. At night this area counts as one of the darkest places in England, so visitors often drive into the woods to watch the stars.