North Pennines Towns & Villages

'Off the beaten track' epitomises the majestic tranquillity of The North Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty abounding with unspoilt upland countryside and restful, welcoming towns and villages - the focus for a variety of events, festivals and activities. From May Day celebrations, village fairs and carnivals to leek shows, horse fairs and walking festivals - there's plenty to suit all tastes.

The landscape of the North Pennines is scattered with picturesque stone-built villages little changed by modern life. Blanchland typifies the best of these, lying in a beautiful setting in a wooded glen of the River Derwent, its honey-coloured shops and cottages built around an L-shaped piazza with Italian style gateway. Exuding olde-worlde charm, it's often been the location for period costume dramas including those of late great local author, Catherine Cookson. Blanchland's Lord Crewe Arms Hotel is built on the site of an 1165AD monastery, and is one of England's oldest pubs.

Allendale is a favourite stop for walkers and cyclists, with popular pubs and tearooms ideal for recharging your batteries. It's also home to the unique Allendale Tar Barrel Festival, where a procession of 'guisers' carry blazing tar barrels on their heads to a midnight bonfire on New Year's Eve. For something more serene, the respected 9-hole golf course provides memorable views towards Northumberland National Park.

Nearby, beautiful Allenheads, the highest village in England, provides a similarly welcoming stop for cyclists on the Coast 2 Coast cycle route. It's hard to believe this beautiful village was at the heart of the lead-mining industry a hundred years ago, a subject brought to life by the fascinating heritage centre.