The most northerly of the National Parks, Northumberland National Park is also the least visited and the least populated, although that is due more to its location than to any lack of interesting reasons for visiting.
The northern part of the park is part of the Border Forest Park, with mile after mile of conifers planted by the Forestry Commission. The southern border of the park is marked by Hadrian's Wall, the 2nd century AD creation of the Romans who needed a barrier to keep out the fierce tribes to the north.
Wildlife in the park is diverse and fascinating. Whooper swans from Iceland winter in the low "loughs", or shallow lakes, that fringe the Wall; the best vantage point to see them is at Grindon. Roe deer roam the conifer woodland, with fox and badgers for company, but the local star is the curlew, the official symbol of the park.
There is excellent walking in the Otterburn Range north of the River Coquet, and the river valley offers some of the most beautiful unspoilt scenery in the north of England. Try the hill above Elsdon for wonderful views of the park, or the Cheviot, tallest of the Border Hills. The Pennine Way long-distance trail runs through the park from south to north, with long sections running parallel to Hadrian's Wall.
Ordnance Survey maps covering the Northumberland National Park:
Explorer OS maps (Scale: 4cm = 1 km / 1: 25000) - best for walking
EX043 Hadrians Wall
EX042 Kielder Water
Landranger OS maps (Scale: 2cm = 1km / 1: 50000)
LR087 HEXHAM/HALTWHISTLE
LR075 BERWICK UPON TWEED
LR074 KELSO
LR080 CHEVIOT HILLS & KIELDER WATER
Visitor Centres are located at Walltown (Hadrian's Wall), and Bardon's Mill.
The Sill
National Landscape Discovery Centre
Bardon Mill
Hexham
Northumberland
NE47 7AN
Web: https://www.thesill.org.uk/
Walltown Visitor Centre
Walltown Quarry
Greenhead
Brampton
CA8 7HF
Web: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/
What to see:
The Cheviot: views as far as Holy Island and nearby Iron-Age hill forts.
Hadrian's Wall: see Housesteads, one of the best-preserved Roman forts along the Wall.
Hardbottle Crags: heather moorland owned by the Forestry Commission
Holystone: Pretty village near the River Coquet. There are walks along the Roman road and to nearby viewpoints, as well as to Lady's Well, with legends of St Ninian.
Chesters Roman Fort - boasts an exceptional Roman bathhouse
Haltwhistle - historic market town near Hadrian's Wall
Housteads Roman Fort - the most complete Roman fort in Britain
Carrawburgh Temple of Mithras - 3rd-century Roman temple
Rothbury - the gateway to Coquetdale
Contact
Northumberland National Park
Eastburn South Park
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 1BS
Website: www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/
