|
|
|
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear |
|
You may view the information for ALL the locations in this area
by clicking HERE (the page may be very large) or you can view your
preferred location from the list on the left.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Alendale is a
small village in
the picturesque
Allen valley,
backed by the
hills and moors
of the North
Pennines. Once a
prosperous major
centre for the
mining of lead,
it is now a much
smaller rural
settlement,
though relics of
it's industrial
past can still
be found in the
surrounding
countryside.
Laying within a
designated area
of outstanding
natural beauty,
Allendale is a
popular base for
walkers and has
a good range of
accommodation,
tea rooms and
gift shops.
The valley is
sometimes
referred to as
Mallendale by
fans of the
author,
Catherine
Cookson, as this
was the setting
for her 'Mallen
Streak' Trilogy.
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
The area around
Alnwick, just 30
miles north of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
is one of the
most rural and
sparsely
populated
districts in the
UK. From here is
is possible to
visit
picturesque
villages,
historic market
towns or ancient
castles, all
surrounded by
spectacular
scenery.
County town of
Northumberland
and seat of the
Duke of
Northumberland,
Alnwick is a
picturesque
market town
dating back to
medieval times.
It developed as
a staging post
on the London to
Edinburgh route
as it was about
half way between
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
and Berwick upon
Tweed, just a
day's ride from
each.
Parts of the
town still have
the old cobbled
streets and
narrow alleys.
The fine stone
buildings which
once were inns
now house a
variety of
specialist
shops.
|
Alnwick Strret Scene - Photo:
Ron Goodhew
CCL |
|
Alnwick Castle - Photo:
Ray Byrne
CCL |
On the outskirts
of the town can
be found Alnwick
castle, a
medieval castle
built in the
thirteenth
century. As well
as being home to
the Duke of
Northumberland,
Alnwick castle
has also been a
back drop for
many films and
television
productions such
as 'Harry Potter
and the
Philosophers
stone',
'Elizabeth',
'Robin Hood -
Prince of
Thieves', 'Ivan
Hoe', 'Mary
Queen of Scots',
and 'Blackadder
I'. |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Unloading the days catch in Amble Harbour -
Photo:
John Tomlinson
CCL |
Situated at the
mouth of the
River Coquet, an
area of
outstanding
natural beauty,
Amble started
life in Roman
times and was
developed as a
coal port in the
eighteenth
century. Now the
harbour is home
to traditional
fishing vessels
and a modern
marina. From the
harbour you can
see the daily
catches of fish
being unloaded
and view the
stunning sight
of Warkworth
Castle on the
horizon.
Beautiful
countryside
surrounds the
town, with the
medieval village
of Warkworth
within walking
distance along
the Coquet River
pathway. Amble's
strength lies in
its unspoilt
beaches and
unrivalled
countryside,
where the
community covet
their status as
'The Friendliest
Port'. |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Ashington grew
as a coal mining
community from
little more than
a collection of
farms in the
early nineteenth
century and was
once known as
'The largest
mining village
in the world'.
Though, like
nearly all of
the other mining
towns and
villages in
Northumberland,
this activity
has long since
died it is still
proudly
remembered at
the fascinating
Woodhorn
Colliery Museum.
As well as a
wide range of
shops and the
Tuesday market,
Ashington also
boasts not one,
but two country
parks on its
doorstep. The
Wansbeck Country
Park from where
it is possible
to follow the
river all the
way to the sea
at Sandy Bay
where a host of
water sports are
available, and
the Queen
Elizabeth II
Country Park
with it's Park
Railway.
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Bamburgh as seen from the castle - Photo:
Gary Caldwell
CCL |
Bamburgh, with
it's fine
village green,
is a small
coastal
settlement with
Bamburgh Castle
at it's heart.
Once home to the
Kings of
Northumberland,
the castle
looking across
the dunes and
the sea to the
Farne Islands is
one of the
finest examples
in Britain. The
Norman church,
founded in 547,
in the village
is also well
worth a look.
Within the
village, you
will find a
number of pubs
and an
assortment of
shops. Venture
out of the
village and with
it's long
beaches,
breathtaking
countryside and
the Farne
Islands close
by, there is
much to see and
do whatever your
choice of
country pursuit. |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Barrasford is
situated on the
North Tyne River
nine miles from
Hexham and is
overlooked by
the restored
fourteenth
century Haughton
Castle on the
opposite river
bank. Barrasford
is within easy
reach of the
stunning
Northumberland
National Park in
addition to
Hadrian's Wall
and Chesters
Fort. |
Haughton Castle - Photo:
Les Hull
CCL |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Bedlingtonshire (or Bedlington
for short) is one of the very few village shires.
An attractive
small market town situated on the River Blyth. In
the eighteenth and nineteenth century, Bedlington
grew around the production of iron, with the
Bedlington Iron and Engine works being founded in
1736 by William Tomlinson. The company was
originally involved in the slitting of iron for
the production of nails. At the beginning of the
nineteenth century, under the management of close
friend of George and Robert Stevenson, Michael
Longridge, the works grew to play an influential
role in the growth of the railways, developing the
first malleable rail track patented in 1820. It
later went on to produce 215 locomotive engines
and a number of groundbreaking locomotives
designed by engineering expert Sir Daniel Gooch.
The works closed in 1867 due to fierce competition
in the industry, by which time, the Bedlington
Coal Company was becoming the main employer in the
town. Founded in 1838, by 1909 there were ten
collieries in the local area, the last of which
closing in 1974.
|
Hartford Hall - Photo:
Alan Fearon
CCL |
The site of one
of the
collieries south
of the town
centre has now
been transformed
into the fine 18
hole Bedlington
Golf Course.
Also just
outside the town
is Bedlington
Country Park
with over five
miles of
pathways and
nature trails.
Situated on the
banks of the
River Blyth, the
park is a
popular spot for
horse riding
through the
spring dawn
riding school.
The park also
offers public
barbecues and a
paddling pond
located at a
sheltered
clearing at
Humford Mill. |
Bedlington is
also a stones
throw from
Plessey Woods
Country Park,
created around a
section of
mature woodland
beside the River
Blyth. This is a
favourite among
bird watchers,
where
Sparrowhawks can
be seen hunting
and Tawny Owls
can be spotted
roosting in the
trees. The
predominantly
oak and birch
woods play host
to wintering
Thrushes and
Finches from
northern climes.
Bedlington used
to belong to the
Prince Bishop of
Durham and is
also the resting
place of St.
Cuthbert!
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Belford dates
back to Roman
times and for
many centuries
was an important
stop off point
on the London to
Edinburgh route,
until as
recently as the
1980's when the
Belford bypass
was created on
the A1. Though
Belford no
longer holds a
weekly market,
there is still a
good number of
shops and a
range of quality
accommodation on
offer. Its
convenient
location, close
to tourist
attractions and
the coast, makes
Belford the
ideal base for a
holiday or just
a day out. |
A Quiet street in Belford - Photo:
Ann Hodgson
CCL |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Royal Border Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed -
Photo:
Nick W
CCL |
Situated in a
designated area
of outstanding
natural beauty,
Berwick-upon-Tweed
has much to
offer with its
surrounding wide
open spaces,
magnificent
scenery and
stunning
coastline of
golden beaches,
craggy cliffs
and sheltered
bays. When tides
allow, you can
drive across the
famous causeway
to the Holy
Island of
Lindisfarne.
This was once
one of the
strongholds of
early
Christianity in
England.
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Blyth Marina - Photo:
Mick Garratt
CCL |
The port and
town of Blyth,
Northumberland's
largest, dates
back to 1723. It
was home to the
Blyth Ship
Building yard,
the largest on
the north east
coast, until its
closure in 1967.
Blyth also grew
as a major
shipping port
for the export
of
Northumberland
coal from its
own and other
local
collieries. All
though most of
the collieries
have now closed,
Blyth is still a
busy seaport
who's main trade
is aluminium
ore, imported
coal, wood and
paper. It also
supports the
North Sea oil
and gas
industries. A
notable point
about the port
today is the
Blyth Windfarm -
a row of nine
wind turbines,
which line the
north pier
generating
electricity for
the National
Grid. |
The harbour is
also home of the
Royal
Northumberland
Yacht Club, and
with the long
golden sandy
South Beach
being popular
with windsurfers
and fishermen,
there is plenty
to do on the
water. Back on
dry land, there
is a large
leisure centre
and swimming
pool complex and
the Phoenix
Theatre. As well
as the indoor
Keelrow shopping
centre housing a
wide variety of
shops, Blyth
also hosts
weekly markets.
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Cornhill is a
small
agricultural
village, laying
on the northerly
edge of
Northumberland,
on the Scottish
Borders. |
St. Helen's Church, Cornhill-on-Tweed - Photo:
Phil Thirkell
CCL |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Church of St. Nicholas - Photo:
Alan Fearon
CCL |
Cramlington,
situated in the
southern portion
of
Northumberland
nine miles north
of Newcastle,
has been in
existence as a
settlement for
many centuries
with a chapel
recorded to have
been built in
1270. As with
many towns and
villages in the
area,
Cramlington
prospered from
the coal mining
boom of the late
nineteenth and
early twentieth
centuries. With
the decline of
the coal
industry in the
late part of the
1900s, modern
Cramlington grew
in the 1960's
and 70's as a
"New Town".
Though the old
Anglican Church
of St. Nicolas,
built in 1868 in
the gothic
style, still
remains as an
important
landmark at the
heart of this
bustling town.
Cramlington Folk
Fest was held as
a single day
event to
celebrate the
new millennium
in 2000, and
following its
success is now
held as a
three-day
weekend festival
every year. |
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Falstone sits in
the shadow of
massive Kielder
Water earth dam,
with the Kielder
reservoir being
the largest man
made lake in
Europe. Being a
small village,
Falstone has
only a tearoom,
a pub, and an
inn on the
outskirts,
though further
entertainment
and dining can
be found in
Hexham, 27 miles
to the south
east.
There is a
wealth of
scenery to take
in with much of
the parish
occupied by the
Kielder Forest,
planted in the
1920s.
Falstones's
situation makes
it an ideal base
for the various
water sports and
leisure
facilities of
the Kielder
Reservoir sited
at the
Craneheugh,
Leaplish and
Tower Knowe
centres.
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
|
|
|
|
Narrowly missing
out on it's
European Capital
of Culture
nomination,
Gateshead is a
town with a lot
to offer. Its
history predates
Roman times,
when a bridge
and Gatehouse
were built
across the River
Tyne. Centuries
later the town
expanded, during
the industrial
revolution, with
shipbuilding,
pottery,
ironworks and
glass making. A
number of famous
inventors
carried out
their pioneering
work in
Gateshead,
including the
inventor of the
steam
locomotive,
George
Stevenson,
Joseph Swan and
Charles Parsons,
to name a few.
Gateshead's
varied
industrial
heritage lives
on today at the
Shipley Art
Gallery's 'Made
in Gateshead'
exhibition.
Today, in
addition to it's
thriving
industries,
Gateshead is
possibly more
famed as a
centre for the
arts. Opened in
2002, 'BALTIC -
The Centre for
Contemporary
Arts', housed in
part of the
former Baltic
flour mill in
the Gateshead
Quays, is a
major
international
centre for
contemporary
arts. The
Gateshead Quays,
in the heart of
the cultural
quarter, is
undergoing a
£250 million
regeneration
scheme. It is
home to the
stunning
Millennium
Bridge, which
has attracted
international
attention for
it's unique
design that
makes the Quays
skyline one of
the most
distinctive in
Europe. The
Quays are also
home to
pioneering music
centre and a
wealth of bars
and restaurants.
|
Angel of the North - Photo:
Alison Clayton
CCL |
The artistic
traditions of
Gateshead are
continued
outside of the
centre through a
number of
initiatives.
Standing next to
the A1 on the
outskirts of
Gateshead and on
the edge of the
Great North
Forest is
Britain's
largest
sculpture, The
Angel of the
North. Standing
at over 20
metres hall, it
is the creation
of
internationally
renowned
sculptor, Antony
Gormley. Also
situated in the
Gateshead
countryside is
the 'Marking the
Ways' sculptural
trail, which is
a six mile
circular route
featuring some
30 pieces of
art. The
sculptures were
produced by a
number of
national
sculptors, all
working with
local people to
develop their
designs. The
Riverside
Sculpture Park
is another
award-winning
collection,
again from | | | | |
