Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

208 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

Wild Northumbria

Sparsely populated and with a large pristine moorland
habitat, Northumberland is a county of wild beauty. The 0 kilometres 10
long and low coastline has seen more development than
the wilder, more hilly interior, but as much as a quarter 0 miles 10
of the county is protected as part of the Northumberland
National Park. This makes the area one of the best in the
country for a driving holiday – the roads are generally Haggerston LINDISFARNE
empty and the scenery simply stunning. Architecturally, Beal ISLAND
the area is also surprisingly rich. Sharing a border with Holy Island
Scotland and facing the North Sea, Northumberland was Lowick BAMBURGH
often subjected to attacks from marauding Scots and Detchant CASTLE
Belford
pillaging Vikings. As a result the coast and interior is Seahouses
studded with more castles than any other county.
Chatton Newham Beadnell
Wooler
Hepburn
Ellingham
Middleton Embleton
DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE
New Berwick Rennington Craster
Brandon Bolton Aln Howick
Beanley
C h e v i o t H i l l s Whittingham Edlingham ALNWICK Denwick Alnmouth
Netherton
Shilbottle
Coquet
ESTATE
Island
Harbottle CRAGSIDE Swarland Warkworth
Above Fishing boats at Beadnell Flotterton AMBLE
harbour, Northumberland Rothbury Longframlington Broomhill
Rochester
NOR THUMBERLAND
Monkside
513m Elishaw
Kielder Emblehope Elsdon Longhorsley
Moor Otterburn
Kielder Netherwitton
Forest Kielder
Park Reservoir
Falstone Greenhaugh Hartington
KIELDER WATER West
Stannersburn Charlton Woodburn Cambo KEY
Drive route
Northumberland Bellingham
North Tyne
National Park
PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Start/finish: Kielder Water to Lindisfarne Island.
Number of days: 2, including a wait for the tide.
Distances: 126 km (79 miles).
Road conditions: Roads are well-maintained.
When to go: From late May to early August – but
the weather can be windy at all times of year.
Main market days: Alnwick: Market Square, Sat &
Thu (Apr–Sep); Farmers’ Market last Fri of the month.
Festivals: Alnwick: International Music Festival,
Aug; Cragside: Rothbury Traditional Music Festival,
Jul; Alnmouth Arts Festival, mid-Jun. Above On the approach road to the impressive Bamburgh Castle

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