Spend a day, a couple of days, a weekend or longer at Northumberland National Park
Northumberland is famous for its warm welcome why not Explore the National Park - From waterfalls to ancient walls
Northumberland is the most remote and least populated of all England's national parks, with a population of only around 2,000. This equates to just 0.02 persons per hectare – 10 times less dense than any other national park. It is also officially the most tranquil National Park.
The park covers several distinct areas. In the north are the Cheviot Hills, a range of hills that mark the border between England and Scotland. Further south, the hills give way to areas of rolling moorland, some of which have been covered by forestry plantations to form Kielder Forest.
Northumberland National Park, with its clear air and pristine waters, is home to some of our most peaceful hidden gems, remotest footpaths and most astounding nature. Guided walks, mountain biking, stargazing, and even wild Cheviot Goat-spotting can all be experienced across its serene landscapes.
Covering more than 400 square miles, the lofty Cheviot Hills at the uppermost section of the National Park scales the Scottish Border, whilst the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site dominates the south, with Kielder Water & Forest Park to the west.
You can’t discuss Northumberland National Park without mentioning its fascinating history. The 2000 year-old Hadrian’s Wall dives across the rolling hills and dramatic landscape. Explore lesser-known ancient spots like the remains of Bronze Age burial sites at Turf Knowe in the Breamish Valley, or the mystical Brocolitia Temple of Mithras.
If you decide to visit in autumn or winter, nightfall brings the incredible experience of stargazing in the darkest skies in the country. There are many places in the National Park where you can galaxy gaze into gold-tier rated dark skies, and look out for solar and star gazing events throughout the year at locations like the Cawfields and Walltown Dark Sky Discovery Sites.
Top 5 Things to do @Northumberlandnationalpark - Whether you're out with the family, with your friends or on your own, discover an activity or event to Get Stuck Into.
1- "it's a walk in the park"
Hike along Hadrian’s Wall, find a rushing waterfall, spot rare wildlife and reconnect with nature on a Northumberland National Park walk.
Routes range from rigorous (perfect for expert hikers looking for a challenge) to gentle trails for first time explorers who are breaking in their hiking boots.
Follow in the footsteps of Romans with dedicated walking routes, and see the best parts of Hadrian’s Wall.
Visit Birdoswald Roman Fort, the top of Steel Rigg and Housesteads Roman Fort for picture perfect countryside views.
#ukdayout tip: Tired feet? Give them a break and get onboard the Hadrian’s Wall bus, or snap up a Hadrian's Wall Country Line Day Ranger train ticket and board a train on the Hadrian’s Wall Country Line. Hop on and off all day anywhere between Carlisle and Newcastle and beyond Carlisle along the Cumbrian Coast line to Ravenglass.
Plan your Walking trip: Walk Along The Wall
2- Hang out with the stars
Stargazing is more than seeing a smattering of stars from your front lawn. It’s the spine-tingling moment when you see an official ‘dark sky’ as recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association.
Gaze at galaxies in Northumberland’s Dark Sky Park and spot constellations in the night skies above our coastline. The whole of Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water & Forest Park make up the International Dark Sky Park, a status that is awarded by the International Dark Sky Association.
This means that on a clear night, once the sun has set and you're in a remote spot away from street lights, you can look up into the night sky and see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and the Andromeda Galaxy (2.5 million light years away) with the naked eye.
#ukdayout tip: Wrap up warm, When temperatures dip, the sky is at its most transparent and the darker nights make these seasons the prime viewing time. That's when the shivering river of stars that is the Milky Way can be spotted overhead.
Pre Book a "Dark Sky Event"
3- Visit Kielder
As a haven for wildlife, Kielder Water & Forest Park will never fail to amaze you.
With red squirrels, ospreys, and water voles calling the park home, beauty awaits you around every corner.
Kielder Water & Forest Park features miles of beautiful trails, including forest walks for all the family and dedicated mountain bike tracks.
The Lakeside Way* is a 26 mile multi-user trail, suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users, that encircles the shimmering shoreline of Kielder Water.
#ukdayout tip: Call into one of the main visitor information centre’s at Tower Knowe, Kielder Waterside and Kielder Castle where a member of the Kielder team will be pleased to help with suggestions, maps and guides
Plan your visit to Kielder Water
*(currently closed due to storm damage)
4-Impressive sights to see
With Northumberland’s rich history, it’s no surprise there are a range of amazing landmarks scattered across the Park.
With stories involving everything from murderers to fairies, The Park has a fair share of legendary tails across Northumberland National Park.
The Drake Stone A huge stone boulder alleged to have special healing powers, Walltown Peace Labyrinth A chance to walk through thousand willow plants in twenty different colours,
The Cheviot Memorial A poignant memorial to the airmen who lost their lives on the Cheviot Hills during the Second World War, Winter's Gibbet An 18th century warning to would-be criminals & Linhope Spout to List but a few
#ukdayout tip: Exploring Northumberland National Park, the weather can change quickly watch out for rain storms that soak you to the bone, bright sunshine that then dries you off completely… all in one day. If you’re heading out for the day, hope for the best but plan for the worst.
Find out about how to get to Northumberland National Park and other information to help make the most of your trip.
5-Accend The Cheviot
The Cheviot is the highest point in the Northumberland National Park at 815 metres.
On a clear day, you can see as far as the Lake District and even, some claim, Edinburgh.
A millstone slabbed pathway on the summit is part of the long-distance route, the Pennine Way, on its last few miles.
Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 40 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are January through October.
#ukdayout tip: Stay in one of the charming villages that are nestled away in the Cheviots. Places like Wooler, Rothbury, Bellingham and many more offer rural getaways, unique camping and glamping experiences and, of course, easy access to the fantastic Cheviot landscape.
Find out more about a visit to the Cheviot
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