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Why not take a trip around Northumberland with us - or maybe more than one, resting your weary body from a turbulent world in some of the most peaceful surroundings in the UK. Of course, the things you see will take a bit of travel - though on some of Englands most deserted road and rail links, these journeys will be more of a pleasure than you can imagine.
         
Tour 1 - Coast and Cheviot Foothills.        
Starting in Alnwick, tour 1 takes in much of the county's rugged coastline before turning inland to the Cheviot mountain range and the delight of Coquetdale. As well as visiting the magnificant castle in Alnwick, head east for the coast road and the National Trust estate of Cragside, built by Lord Armstrong in 1863 as a country home to one of North's most famous Victorian industrialists and one of the first houses in the world to be lit by electricity. Make pace past the ancient runes of Dunstaburgh castle to visit Bamburgh, which stands in the shadow of the fortress castle which can be seen for miles on your approach. You may also visit Holy Island at this time, with its fascinating religious and cultural history. Heading inland, we take you to Wooler, in the foothills of the Cheviot mountain range, with Cheviot itself standing at 2674 feet.
For those people keen on the outdoors, the Cheviot range provides a number of activity options, its granite core providing climbers and walkers with routes of all different levels of challenge - the long smooth rounded shapes of the hills are simply excellent for mountain biking. Why not make Wooler one of your stop-over points, or press on South through Rothbury on the river Coquet, catching yourself a salmon in the river Coquet before returning to the pretty coastal villages of either Amble, or Seahouses or Warkworth (pictured Below).
Tour 2 - Cheviot Hills, Kielder and Northumberland National Park.
Pictured - the pretty market village of Warkworth and castle in the background.
 Our recommendation is to start day 2 on a full breakfast of Craster Kippers, a Northumbrian speciality available from most (if not all) the villages or towns on the coast. With Northumberland-Short-Breaks, self-catering facilities exist at each of our holiday cottages and tourist friendly shopkeepers are ever eager to have you sample the delights of traditional Northumbrian recipes.
From the marker town of Wooler, pop into the Tourist Information Centre where you will find further information on what there is to see and do in the Northumberland National Park. Top of our recommended list is to visit the many tourist attractions at Kielder - its forest, castle and of course, the huge Kielder reservoir, the largest man-made lake in Northern Europe. Also to be found at Kielder is the Tower Knowe Visitor Centre, a Falconry exhibition and activity centre. Kielder provides a unique recreational facility for every type of water sport -from angling to water-ski and power boat championships.
To get to Kielder, take the follow unclassified roads through Kirknewton and on to Kirk Yetholm, an excellent stomping ground for climbers and walkers alike.
Whilst not necessarily as tailor-made for walking or climbing as, say the lake district- it is the remoteness of this area of Britain that makes activities such as these all the more inspiring. After your visit to Kielder, take the forest drive to the A68 and head on North to Carter Bar, a fantastic viewpoint (1371 foot) where it is possible to see the Scottish Eildon Hills and, on a good day - Edinborough itself.
Heading back East, why not choose to stay tonight at one of the Coquetdale villages of Alwinton, Holystone or Harbottle. As you will come to expect by now, even the smaller villages in Northumberland offer a unique charm, beautiful surroundings and plenty to see and do.
Tour 3 - Hadrian's Wall and Weardale        

This particular route explores perhaps the most visible evidence of the Roman occupation of Britain, Hadrian's Wall. Running almost the full breadth of the North across the counties of Northumbeland and Cumbria, the wall cuts its way through the National Park boundaries and, whilst in Northumbria, you are never too far away from the wall itself or the many archaelogical sites which have been uncovered over the last 2 centuries.
The best start point for this tour is either Corbridge or Hexham, the latter is one of the largest towns in Northumberland and within a half hour drive of Newcastle and Gateshead.
From here, take the B6318 signposted to Haltwhistle - this road is never more than a couple of miles from the Wall with well posted signs to each of the walls' uncovered forts, encampments and garrisons. Make sure to visit Housesteads, probably the finest fort along the wall and in joint care of the National Trust and English Heritage.
From Haltwhistle, turn South onto the B6295 for Allendale which is a well supported tourist town, with good recreation amenities for children and adults alike. Some way further on the B6295, join the A689, the highest A road in England which takes you to the pretty market town of Alston - this ancient town is a favoured stop off point for many travellers between Northumberland and Cumbria - and has many small tea rooms providing top quality refreshments. A final place for visit is the Killhope lead mining centre, approximately 12 miles from Alston yet centuries away from today's world. In the bleak natural surroundings of the wear valley, the Killhope lead mine offers visitors a look back at some one of the hardest industries of the North through its working lead mine. From Killhope, continue South through the wonderful wear valley, continuing all the way to Durham and the A1, or West through Teasdale to join the M6 and west Lake district.
Whatever you choose to do in Northumberland, make sure you stay with Northumberland Short Breaks - through our advance booking services, we will tailor your stay at some of the best locations in the county and make your booking as easy as a single telephone call. We will also provide a full complement of guides for things for you to see and do whilst you are here. As some of Northumberland's biggest fans, we know you will come back to this fascinating county and to Northumberland-Short-Breaks.com
         
         

Northumberland-Short-Breaks is a subsidiary of Challenge200 Ltd
Registered Office 20 Dockwray Square, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
Registered Co Number 3823512 Telephone 0191 2964144