A place of peace and quiet
The North Pennines is the second largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England and is home to rare wildlife and rugged beauty, boasting striking landscapes to take your breath away, vibrant villages to welcome you in and sweeping moorland views fit to blow you away.
Peaceful and unspoilt with a vibrant natural beauty, this dramatic landscape, from High Force on the River Tees to the sweeping valley of High Cup Gill above Dufton, has been shaped by its unique geology which achieved European and Global Geopark status. Once dotted with lead mines, this area contains much of England's upland hay meadows and heathland, which provide a welcome haven for rare plants and animals.
Animal species that are scarce in the rest of Britain thrive here, and you may see red squirrels, otters, and black grouse, as well as thousands of pairs of wading birds which return every year to breed, in the AONB.
Derwent Reservoir, covering an area of 1,000 acres, forms part of the boundary between Northumberland and County Durham. Fishing, picnicking and spectacular walks can be enjoyed along the picturesque shores, and the north and south shores feature a wheelchair accessible trail.
Home to pretty stone-built villages such as Blanchland and Allendale, you can enjoy local pubs, independent shops and traditional events here. Allendale welcomes in the New Year with a flaming Tar Bar’l festival, where men carry barrels filled with blazing tar on their heads and parade through the streets at midnight.