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orthumberland is an area of incredible natural beauty and a place that radiates calm, despite a violent past evidenced in the bruised castles. From the open heather moors of the North Pennines to the golden sand beaches and hamlets along the Northumberland Coast, there’s stunning scenery to be had with every step. And with the World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall, Holy Island of Lindisfarne and vibrant towns to explore, Northumberland is hard to beat.

History and Heritage
Romans, Vikings, and the Scots have all come to blows in the area - look no further than the great castles for proof of Northumberland’s turbulent past. As well as castles, you can also see Hadrian’s Wall which rises and fall along the rugged landscape. The Roman forts at Vindolanda are fascinating, with an excellent museum showcasing archaeological finds from as far back as AD 85.

Arts and Culture
It’s no wonder that the dramatic Northumberland landscape has resulted in a vibrant art and culture scene. Check out the giant bronze sculpture of a couple off the coast of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea before visiting Berwick, which is home to a thriving art scene and the excellent Maltings Theatre. For museums, Morpeth has England's only Bagpipe museum and Woodhorn celebrates Northumberland's mining heritage.

Must See Attractions
Northumberland is castle central. Surrounded by impressive scenery Dunstanburgh, Warkworth and Bamburgh are all well worth a visit. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is still worth a pilgrimage and Stephenson's world-famous viaduct bridge in Berwick is equally impressive. No trip to the area is complete without exploring Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda is a good place to immerse yourself in Roman life.

Food and Drink
If you haven’t been to a tree-top restaurant before, well now’s your chance at the Treehouse Restaurant in Alnwick Garden which also serves cracking local grub. With the salmon rivers of the Tweed and the North Sea, Northumberland has quality fresh fish on its doorstep so be sure to sample it. And Hexham’s Bouchon won the F-Word’s Best Local French Restaurant Award – go and find out why.

Famous Locals
Ashington was the birth place of the famous footballing brothers Bobby and Jack Charlton. Infamous rock ‘n’ roller Pete Doherty was born at Hexham as was the actor Robson Green. Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the landscape gardener that inspired some of England’s greatest gardens was born in Kirkhale in 1716.

Sports
Stretch your legs along sandy beaches and rugged moorland, or hike historical places like Dunstanburgh Castle and Hadrian's Wall. Mountain bikers should hit Kielder Water and Forest Park, and see just how fast they can go whilst horse riders will love the romantic Cheviot Hills. There are also plenty of opportunities to catch a whopper with course and sea fishing.

Family Fun
Take a trip around the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast and see how many puffins and seals you can spot. For more intrepid youngsters, a spot of coasteering along the Northumberland coast is in order exploring blowholes and sea caves. Meet the jailer at Hexham Old Gaol and learn about the history of crime and punishment with interactive displays.