Highlights

What to see and what not to miss in Northumberland

With two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of the country's first National Parks, England's largest World Heritage Site and more castles and fortified buildings than any other county in England, Northumberland is packed with places to visit and things to do.

This is a landscape of iconic landmarks steeped in history and miles of uncrowded golden beaches, dramatic coastal paths and spectacular vistas. Take a stroll along deserted sands against a backdrop of cliffs and castles before relaxing with a pint of locally brewed beer on a sunny bench outside a village pub.

The rolling grasslands of the Cheviot Hills, pure river valleys of the North, dramatic beauty of the North Pennines and rugged landscape of the Northumberland National Park and Hadrian's Wall Country provide famous countryside highlights, the fortified buildings, abbeys and priories that scatter the countryside providing regular reminders of how 2000 years of history have shaped the landscape.

Scattered throughout the countryside and dotted along the coast, Northumberland's towns and villages are a real gem. Friendly and picturesque, this is the England you always wanted to find, with streets lined with interesting shops and events, shows and village fairs celebrating Northumberland's rich cultural heritage.