There are lots of things to do in Newcastle and the North East of England. This page gives links to the main places of interest. As well as places to visit there are a variety of sports and activities to do. For example, hill walking in Kielder National Park or the Lake District, sailing and boating on Kielder Water and there are plenty of golf courses in the area, inlcuding a course at Lumley Castle.
There are plenty of things to see in Newcastle itself, there is a castle and the river. There are also the famous bridges across the Tyne, which include the Tyne Bridge (pictured here from the Gateshead Millennium Bridge) and the Millennium Bridge.
The Angel of the North, just off the A1 in South Gateshead, is a new landmark overlooking the city.
For more information visit the Keilder Water homepage
Kielder Water, with a 27 mile shoreline, is the largest man-made lake in Western Europe. The lake sits deep within the massive Kielder Forest, Britain's largest forest, which covers an area of over 230 square miles. Predominantly Sitka and Norway Spruce, the forest is currently being restructured to include a wider range of species including many more broadleaf trees. Hills, rivers and open areas add to the diversity of the forest which is one of the few places in England which is still home to native red squirrels.
Walking, cycling and horse riding are all well catered for in the forest. An interesting 13 mile Forest Toll road connects Kielder Village at the head of the resevoir to Byrness on the A68. The 86 passenger motor cruiser, the Osprey, sails on a round-the-lake cruise with commentary, 4 times daily.
Hadrian's Wall Site
Tynedale authority site
English Heritage site : Look under "Places to Visit", then select "Properties" and then "Hadrian's Wall" to get to the Hadrian's Wall information
Stretching 73 miles (80 Roman miles) from coast to coast across Northern England from the Solway to the Tyne, Hadrian's Wall today spans nearly 2,000 years of history. The Wall was built by order of the Emperor Hadrian who came to Britain in AD122. His purpose was to mark the boundary of the Roman Empire and divide the 'civilized' world from the tribes beyond or, as Hadrian's biographer put it, 'to separate the Romans from the Barbarians'. At some points it is as stark and inspiring as it would have been in Hadrian's time. Elsewhere it has mellowed into the landscape or is tucked into hidden corners of the towns and cities which run its length.
Hadrian's Wall is, of course, much more than a wall. Small forts a mile apart ('milecastles'), temples and turrets appear all along its line and museums, reconstructions and visitors centres bring the frontier to life. Fortified lines once marked many of the Roman Empire's boundaries along the Rhine, the Danube and in the Middle East. These, along with Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall in Britain were the outposts of the empire. Of them all, Hadrian's Wall, now a World Heritage Site, is by far the best-preserved and being there can still evoke a sense of standing on the edge of the world.
Cragside : A Victorian estate and mansion, created by the 1st Lord Armstrong, innovator, engineer and gunmaker. The house was designed by R. Norman Shaw and was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity, an ingenious system developed by Armstrong using man-made lakes and underground piping. These lakes form an integral part of the extensive pleasure grounds, which encompass the house and in which Armstrong planted millions of trees, as well as building a carriage drive (now acccessible by car) and miles of footpaths. Cragside also claims one of the world's largest rock gardens and the formal terraced garden contains a remarkable orchard house, probably the finest example of its type. There is also an Italian garden and 19th-century Clock Tower, and visitors can view the restored hydraulic and hydroelectric machinery on the 'Power Circuit' walk through the Debdon Valley.
Cherryburn : The birthplace of Thomas Bewick (1753-1828), Northumberland's greatest artist, wood-engraver and naturalist. The 19th-century farmhouse, latter home of the Bewick family, houses an exhibition on Bewick's life and work. There is a printing house in the adjoining barn, plus Bewick's birthplace cottage, a farmyard and garden for picnics. There are beautiful views over the Tyne valley and a short walk to the south bank of the River Tyne, where Bewick spent much of his childhood.
Dunstanburgh Castle : A magnificent ruin, dominating a lonely stretch of Northumberland's beautiful coastline. Originally built in 1316, the castle was later enlarged by John of Gaunt and then severely damaged during the Wars of the Roses, since when it has been derelict.
Farne Islands : One of Britain's most important seabird sanctuaries, home to many different species including puffins, eider ducks and four species of tern. Many of the birds are extremely confiding and visitors can enjoy close views. There is also a large colony of seals. St Cuthbert died on Inner Farne in 687 and the chapel built in his memory can be visited.
Gibside : One of the North's finest landscapes, a 'forest garden' currently under restoration and embracing many miles of riverside and forest walks. There are several outstanding buildings, including a Palladian chapel, Column of Liberty, and others awaiting or undergoing restoration.
Lindisfarne : Perched atop a rocky crag and accessible over a causeway at low tide only, the castle presents an exciting and alluring aspect. Originally a Tudor fort, it was converted into a private house in 1903 by the young Edwin Lutyens. The small rooms are full of intimate decoration and design, the windows looking down upon the charming walled garden, planned by Gertrude Jekyll Note: It is impossible to cross to the island between the 2hrs before high tide and the 3˝hrs after. Tide tables are printed in local newspapers, and displayed at the causeway. To avoid disappointment check that safe crossing times coincide with castle opening times before making a long/special journey.
Wallington : Dating from 1688, Wallington House was home to many generations of the Blackett and Trevelyan families who have all left their mark over the centuries. The restrained Palladian exterior gives way to the magnificent rococo plasterwork of the interior which houses collections of ceramics, 19th-century painting and wallpapers and an early 20th-century dolls' house. The house is set in delightful grounds comprising lawns, lakes and woodland, as well as a beautiful walled garden containing many species of unusual plants and shrubs and a conservatory housing a wide variety of fuchsia.
Lakes on line
The Official Tourist Board site
The Lake District National Park site
It is possible to visit the Lake District and Cumbria from Newcastle. The Lakes are West of Newcastle and are one of the most popular areas of England. Cumbria is home to some of England's most spectacular scenery. At its heart lies the magnificent Lake District National Park, whilst to the east and the west there are many other natural treasures for visitors to enjoy. Cumbria encompasses the green and fertile Eden Valley, the golden beaches and historic ports of the western coastline, the great lakes of central Lakeland, the solitude of the North Pennines and the rich beauty of the northern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
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