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Northumberland, United Kingdom
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Northumberland, UK
The Missed Experience
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Kielder |
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Discover the delights of Kielder Water and Forest Tucked away at the top of Northumberland, close to the Scottish Border and Hadrian's Wall, beautiful Kielder Water is the largest man-made lake in Europe. Kielder Forest, one of Britain's biggest nature resorts, is home to red squirrels, deer and rare birds. The lake fringes and forest glades can best be explored by walking, cycling or on horseback, and there are many self-guided trails. Activities for all the family, a variety of accommodation, easy accessibility and closeness to villages and Northumberland National Park are among the many attractions, making Kielder ideal for holidays or leisure pursuits, including fishing, boating, riding and watersports. For the business visitor, Kielder Water provides the ideal setting for unrivalled conference and training facilities. This rich and varied landscape reflects the mood of Northumbria: a wild and romantic place to savour, a place to recharge the spirit. Kielder Facts and Figures * Kielder is the largest forest in England and one of the largest man-made forests in Europe. * It covers an area of 62,000 hectares (ha) of which four fifths - 50,000 hectares are planted, in one large unit. * The whole area lies within 200 square miles. * Rainfall is 900 - 1,200mm. * Elevation is 190/600m. * Number of standing trees is 150 million. * Annual felling and replanting programmes is 1,200 ha. * Daily timber production is 1,300 tonnes. * 8 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering 7,800 ha. * Planning first started in 1926 at Smales farm. * Sitka spruce is the main species at Kielder. It is the tree that thrives best in this hostile upland environment, accounting for ¾ of the forest area. 12% Norway spruce and 9% lodgepole pine and a small proportion of Scots pine, larch and broadleaf complete the list. Through an expansion of planting natural broadleaf, the percentage of hardwoods will rise at Kielder from 1% in the original forest to 8% by 2020 AD. * Kielder Forest District has around 75 direct employees, while a further 25 are employed locally in Civil and Mechanical Engineering sections. Around 160 workers are employed at any given time on contract operations. Thus total yearly employment by the Forest District is approximately 260. * Use of wood: Half goes to saw mills in north of England and south Scotland, to be sawn into construction timber, fencing, packaging. The other half, small round wood cut from smaller trees and the tops of bigger trees, goes to a paper mill at Workington in the Lake District, and is made into carton board, cereal packets and boxes. Some goes to the chipboard factory at Hexham and another further south in County Durham. * Visitor figures for Tower Knowe Visitor Centre at Kielder Water are estimated to be 200,000 a year. * Visitor figures at Leaplish Waterside Park are estimated to be 250,000. * Kielder Castle has 40,000 visitors a year to the visitor centre itself, although nearly 90,000 use the Castle car park. Over 40,000 people use the Forest Drive and 40,000 visitors were recorded at 3 picnic places within the forest. * Kielder is currently one of the top five tourist attractions in Northumberland. |
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| 2005-08-01 @ 03:18:12 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (0) | ||
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Holy Island |
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Holy Island of Lindisfarne: Site of the first Viking invasions of Britain, Lindisfarne's history is deeply intertwined with both the birth of Anglo-Saxon Britain and of English Christianity. It was here that, in the 8th century, monks created the famous Lindisfarne Gospels. This is a 'must see' location, a mixture of castle, priory, beautiful dunes and enchanting village life. Tourist Information for Bamburgh Lindisfarne Priory In 1083, over two centuries after the original monastery founded by St. Aidan was devastated in Viking attacks, monks from Durham built a new priory on Lindisfarne, which they renamed Holy Island. Completed in 1120 much of the style echoes the geometric patterns of Durham Cathedral.
Lindisfarne Castle Built as an artillery fort in the 1530's, the castle saw little military action. The garrison was finally removed in 1820. Edward Hudson, owner of 'Country Life' magazine bought the castle and had it restored for use as a private residence by Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was given to the National Trust in 1944.
Holy Island depends on tourism but there are reminders of older industries - upturned hulls of old herring boats from a time when there was a thriving fishing industry. Today, Lindisfarne Limited produce a mead, a drink once made on the island by the medieval monks which can be sampled at their St Aidan's winery. The mud-flats and dunes are home to a wide variety of birds and flora The small village and harbour make an idyllic setting and remind of a bygone age. Until the metalled road was opened in 1954 the only access was by way of the 'Pilgrim's Causeway' across the sands. |
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| 2005-06-16 @ 12:52:40 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (0) | ||
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Castles in Northumberland |
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Times and Prices have not beem confirmed as correct and are only here as a guide.
ALNWICK CASTLE
The earliest parts of the castle date from the 11th century. Since 1309, Alnwick has been owned by the Percy family, who became the Earls, then Dukes of Northumberland. The castle is still the home of the Duke of Northumberland. The principal apartments contain a magnificent collection of paintings, furniture and china. The castle is set in a landscape designed by Capability Brown, a Northumbrian by birth. Open: 1st April to 31st October, Daily 11am - 5pm (last admission 4.15pm) Stunning coastal fortress located on a craggy outcrop of rock. Visitors have made Bamburgh their first choice to explore and experience. Bamburgh was a royal centre as early as the 7th century, and its rocky outcrop has provided protection since prehistoric times. The public tour of the Castle passes through rooms and galleries containing fine collections of armour, china, glass, paintings, furniture and tapestries. The Armstrong Museum, in the former Laundry Building, depicts the industrial archaeology of the life and times of the first Lord Armstrong, who restored the castle in the 19th century. Exhibits include a Naval Armstrong Gun and a hydraulic turnover winch, among many examples of Lord Armstrong's inventive genius. Open: 13th March - 31st October. 11am to 5pm -last entry 4.30pm A quadrangular castle, comprising four towers and living accommodation built round a central courtyard, little altered in its defensive plan since the 14th century, complete with jousting course, alarming dungeon and torture chamber. The Castle is the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield, Bt, whose relations, the Earls Grey, have owned the castle since the 1200s.The Italian ornamental gardens and landscaped avenues were created by Sir Jeffrey de Wyatville. Open: Daily Easter - 30th September Sunday - Friday 12noon - 5pm (other times by appointment)
Built by the Earl of Lancaster in the 14th century, Dunstanburgh's remote cliff-top location meant it played little part in the Border Wars. However, it saw much conflict as a Lancastrian stronghold during the 15th century Wars of the Roses. Dunstanburgh finally fell to the Yorkists after two sieges. The ruins are reached by a coastal walk from Craster or Embleton. Open: Daily April to October, 10am - 6pm (4pm in October). November to March, Thursday to Monday, 10am - 4pm only. (English Heritage)
The remains of Edlingham Castle show the development of the fortified house in the Borderlands. The ruins comprise a 13th century hall-house, later extended and strengthened with curtain walls and keep.The nearby church has a fortified tower, where the local priest could shelter in times of threat from raiding bands. Open: Daily - any reasonable time (English Heritage)
First fortified in the 14th century, by the Manners family, Etal Castle guards a crossing place on the River Till. An exhibition in the 19th century chapel beside the castle tells the story of the campaign and battle of Flodden, which took place at nearby Branxton in 1513. An audio tape tour brings the history to life. Open: Daily April to September, 10am - 6pm. (English Heritage) Holy Island
Fairy-tale Tudor fortress restored in the early 20th century by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Open: Daily late March - October. Times vary according to the tide. Telephone for advice. (National Trust)
The first castle was built by Bishop Flambard in 1121. The most northerly stronghold of the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham, Norham was the most dangerous place in England during the Anglo-Scottish wars of the Middle Ages. It suffered numerous assaults and sieges during its long and turbulent history, and was captured by the Scots before the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The surviving ruins are dominated by the massive 12th century keep. Open: Weekends and Bank Holidays April to September, 10am - 6pm (English Heritage)
Built by Sir Robert Harbottle in 1392. Displays illustrate life in the turbulent times of the Border Reivers. Open: All year - 9am - 6pm Entrance adults £1.50, OAP and Groups £1.00 Children 50pence
Remains of this once-flourishing industry can be found throughout North Northumberland. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, limestone was quarried locally and burned to produce fertiliser for the fields and mortar for building. Near Cow's Leap Limekiln is this example of a pele tower, built about 400 years ago as a defence against raiding Scots and Border reivers. There is a National Park car park at the site. Open: Free - any reasonable time |
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| 2005-06-11 @ 05:50:41 AM | Post Comment | Read Comments (1) | ||
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This is Northumberland |
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Tourists travelling to the United Kingdom often miss possibly one of the most beautiful Counties in England. The trains from London to Edinburgh pass through Newcastle up Northumberland has a coastline which varies from long clean sandy beaches, some backed by sand dunes to craggy cliffs. The inland has quiet enclosed valleys - where you can lose yourself in the silence – to the rolling hills of the Cheviots. It has some of the best salmon rivers in the Country to some of the best sea fishing. There is the largest man made lake in Britain at Keilder which is surrounded by the largest man made forest in Europe History has not passed us by, unlike the tourists. We have a wall which runs from the east coast across to the west coast of England and has stood since the time of the Romans.. We have probably more castles to the square mile than any other part of Britain and the Scottish/England battle sites are dotted all over. Wild life thrives in the County as well – we have just introduced Red Kytes to the area, Otters are increasing, and we have one of the last bastions of the Red Squirrel. You can see Buzzards, various falcons, black grouse and the occasional Hen Harrier, among other birds. Sheep by the thousand, occasionally guarded by the odd Alpaca. Feral Goats roam the Cheviots and we have the wild White Cattle at Chillingham. Whatever corner you turn in Northumberland, you are sure to find something that interests you. The next time you come to the UK – STOP – buy a ticket for Newcastle upon Tyne {whether Road, Rail or Air} and spend some time in the area. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. Famous names from the region The powerful Percy family became Dukes of Northumberland and built castles here, notably Alnwick. The present duke resides mostly at Syon Park in Middlesex. (why he should want to do this - we have no idea) George Stephenson, railway pioneer, was married not once but twice at Newburn’s ancient parish church. His first steam locomotive, Puffing Billy, was built here. Catherine Cookson has portrayed Northumberland frequently in her prolific novels, for example The Mallen Trilogy. Newcastle provided the gritty backdrop for two classic crime movies: Get Carter, starring Michael Caine, and Stormy Monday by Mike Figgis. Police frontman Sting is a native of Newcastle. Goal-scorer extraordinaire Alan Shearer was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Otterburn Our home Village. We moved here 12 years ago from the west end of Newcastle. A move that we have never regretted and proberbly saved our sanity. Otterburn is a celebrated staging post on the road to Scotland, and can boast a rich and varied history. Its role continues today, as the village can boast a good range of hotel and Bed and Breakfast accommodation. The Percy Arms Hotel in the centre of the village is an old coaching inn. Notable buildings in the area include Otterburn Hall, a stately home built in its present form in 1869, and Otterburn Tower, a much-extended Pele tower first mentioned in 1245. Beside the busy River Rede, from which it derived its power, Otterburn Mill was famous world wide for its fine Northumbrian tweeds. Today the mill has been restored as a shop and visitor centre displaying its rich history. In 1388, the most famous event in Otterburn's history saw the English and Scottish armies face each other in battle. Despite the loss of their leader the Scots routed the English, and returned home victorious. The site of the Battle of Otterburn is marked by Percy's Cross, a stone column just outside the village. TO BE CONTINUED
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| 2005-06-01 @ 03:13:26 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (1) | |||||||||||
on Tyne, the gateway to Northumberland, but people don’t get off – they are on there way to Scotland. Buses to Scotland usually go up the west coast of England and although many flights arrive and depart from Newcastle International Airport, there are also direct flights from London to Numerous parts of Scotland.
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