Top Things to Do in North East, England

Set on a headland near the North Pier, between the River Tyne and the North Sea, Tynemouth Castle is half a mile from the centre of the town in the north east of England. Both the castle and the priory are in a state of ruin but what remains is well preserved. The eastern end of the priory stands at almost its full height with narrow windows and large arches, behind is a small chapel with a vaulted roof and a rose window. The remains of the castle consist of a gatehouse and keep which are surrounded by parts of a curtain wall; also enclosing the priory, and a moat. Facilities The site is open to visitors daily from 10am between April and September and from Thursday to Monday from October to March. Visitors can see the restored defense emplacements including an armory and guardroom, there is also limited access to the Gun Battery; visitors should ask a member of staff for details. Due to its headland location the site is also a very good place to stop for a picnic. The priory was built on the site in the early 7th century by Edwin of Northumbria and it became a place of pilgrimage when Oswin, King of Deira was buried there. Tynemouth priory was plundered by the Danes in 800AD following which the monks strengthened the fortifications. The strengthening held off the Danes on their next attempt in 832, however in 865 both the church and the priory were destroyed. The Danes twice more plundered the site and in 875 the priory was totally destroyed leaving only the small church. During the reign of Edward the Confessor, Earl Tostig took over the site and made plans to re-found the monastery, unfortunately he was killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 and so his plans were never fulfilled. By 1095 there was a wooden castle built on the site and there was a further attempt to re-found the monastery by the Earl of Northumberland, Robert de Mowbray. Due to a dispute the priory was placed under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Durham but this did not stop the Earl who took refuge in the castle after rebelling against King William II. He was subsequently caught and imprisoned for treason. In 1296 royal permission was granted to surround the monastery with stone walls and later a barbican and gatehouse were added to the castle. During the reign of Henry VIII the monastery was dissolved and along with its lands was granted to Sir Thomas Hilton although the castle still remained property of the crown and home to the Earl of Northumberland. In the following years the castle was used as the site for a lighthouse, an army barracks and a coastal defense during World War II. The castle and priory are now under the care of English Heritage.

Set in the valley of the river Tyne, Chesters is the best-preserved Roman cavalry fort in Britain. Around 500 cavalry troops – the elite of the Roman auxiliary forces – were based here. Today, imaginative interpretation, including a fun family trail, helps you explore the fort’s many clearly marked features. Children can hunt for the ‘rubbing stones’ concealed among the buildings, collecting tips to help them on the trail. Between the fort and the river, you’ll find the finest example of a military bath house anywhere in Britain. All this was rediscovered by John Clayton, a wealthy Victorian landowner whose mansion stands near the fort. His single-minded vision is celebrated in the fort’s Clayton Museum, which is an absolute must-see for all visitors to Chesters.

Blea Gill Head is a remote waterfall located in the upper reaches of Baldersdale in County Durham, England, situated in the wild moorland terrain near Balderhead Reservoir. This waterfall marks a dramatic feature along Blea Gill, a moorland stream that descends through the landscape in the northern Pennines. The falls are positioned at OS grid reference NY909178, placing them in an area characterized by steep-sided valleys and exposed upland scenery typical of this part of the North Pennines. The watercourse tumbles over rock formations shaped by millennia of erosion, creating a cascade that varies significantly in character depending on seasonal rainfall and flow conditions. The Blea Gill itself is a tributary stream that drains the surrounding moorland catchment before eventually contributing to the water system associated with Balderhead Reservoir. This reservoir, completed in the 1960s as part of the Tees Valley water supply scheme, transformed the landscape of upper Baldersdale, submerging the original valley bottom and creating an artificial lake that now dominates the area. The stream originates from the high ground to the west, gathering water from peat-covered slopes and heather moorland before cutting its course through the landscape. The geology of the area consists primarily of Carboniferous rocks, including sandstones and shales that have been sculpted by water action over geological time, with the falls themselves likely formed where harder bands of rock create natural steps in the watercourse. The landscape surrounding Blea Gill Head is quintessentially Pennine in character, with vast expanses of heather moorland, rough grassland, and peat bog stretching across the uplands. This is an area of significant ecological value, supporting populations of upland birds including curlews, lapwings, and golden plovers during the breeding season. Red grouse are also present on the managed moorland, and the area forms part of the traditional landscape of northern England's fell country. The vegetation consists mainly of hardy species adapted to the harsh upland climate, with sphagnum mosses, cotton grass, and bilberry characterizing the ground cover, while the watercourse itself may support specialist plants adapted to the fast-flowing, nutrient-poor conditions. Access to Blea Gill Head requires a degree of commitment and preparation, as this is remote countryside without formal visitor facilities immediately nearby. The waterfall can be approached from the roads that service the Balderhead Reservoir area, though reaching the falls themselves typically involves walking across open moorland terrain that can be rough, boggy, and challenging, particularly in poor weather. Visitors should be equipped with appropriate footwear, waterproof clothing, and navigation tools, as paths may be indistinct and the landscape can be disorienting in mist or low cloud. The nearest parking would likely be at designated spots near the reservoir or along the minor roads that traverse this sparsely populated area, from which a walk of considerable distance across open country would be necessary. The wider Baldersdale area has some historical resonance, having been home to scattered farming communities before the construction of Balderhead Reservoir. The valley was once known through the television series about Hannah Hauxwell, a farmer who lived in nearby Baldersdale in conditions of considerable hardship, which brought attention to the challenges of upland farming life in the Pennines. The construction of the reservoir itself represents a significant piece of twentieth-century infrastructure history, part of the post-war development of water resources for the growing populations of Teesside and County Durham. The landscape bears the marks of former agricultural use, with remnants of stone walls, ruins of farm buildings, and evidence of the pre-reservoir settlement pattern still visible in places around the valley. The moorland environment around Blea Gill Head is managed primarily for water catchment and grouse shooting, with some areas designated for their conservation value as part of the broader North Pennines landscape. The watercourse itself provides habitat for invertebrates adapted to upland stream conditions, and during periods of high flow after heavy rain or snowmelt, the falls can become particularly impressive, with substantial volumes of water cascading through the gill. In drier conditions, the flow may reduce to a modest trickle, reflecting the variability typical of moorland streams that respond rapidly to precipitation patterns. The peaty water often takes on a distinctive brown coloration, characteristic of streams draining blanket bog and heather moorland. For those interested in exploring this remote corner of the North Pennines, combining a visit to Blea Gill Head with a broader exploration of the Baldersdale and Balderhead Reservoir area offers opportunities to experience genuine upland wilderness. The reservoir itself provides a focal point for the landscape, and the roads around it offer access to some of the most remote parts of County Durham. Nearby settlements such as Middleton-in-Teesdale, located some miles to the east, provide the nearest facilities including accommodation, shops, and cafes for visitors exploring this region. The area forms part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, recognized for its distinctive landscape character and relative wildness.

Rowantree Linn is a scenic waterfall located on the Brockley Burn in the parish of Bellingham, Northumberland, England. Situated north of the village of Bellingham at OS grid reference NY846883, this waterfall represents one of several attractive cascades found along the burns and tributaries that flow through this upland area of the North Pennines. The waterfall takes its name from the rowan trees that traditionally grow in the vicinity, "linn" being a Scots and Northern English dialect word for a waterfall or pool, particularly one in a rocky gorge. The falls are formed where the Brockley Burn tumbles over resistant rock formations, creating a series of steps and cascades through a wooded glen. The Brockley Burn itself is a small but characterful watercourse that drains the moorland areas to the north and west of Bellingham. Like many of the burns in this part of Northumberland, it rises in the upland areas and flows through a landscape shaped by centuries of pastoral farming and influenced by the underlying geology of the region. The burn eventually joins the North Tyne, which is one of the two main tributaries forming the River Tyne. The catchment area encompasses rough grazing land, patches of woodland, and the remnants of old field systems that speak to generations of agricultural use in this border country. The area around Bellingham has a rich history extending back through medieval times and beyond, with the landscape bearing witness to the turbulent Border Reiver period when cross-border raids and cattle rustling were commonplace. While specific folklore directly associated with Rowantree Linn may not be extensively documented in widely available sources, the presence of rowan trees in the name connects to broader Celtic and Northern British traditions where rowans were considered protective trees, often planted near dwellings to ward off evil spirits and witchcraft. Waterfalls and burns throughout Northumberland feature in local stories and served as important landmarks and meeting points in a time when the landscape was less formally mapped. The surrounding landscape is characteristic of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, though Bellingham itself sits just beyond the formal AONB boundary. The terrain features a mixture of improved pasture, semi-natural woodland, and moorland, with the burn cutting through steep-sided valleys that provide shelter for varied plant communities. The woodlands around such burns often support native tree species including oak, birch, hazel, and ash alongside the namesake rowans. This habitat mosaic supports a range of wildlife typical of upland Northumberland, including various woodland birds, small mammals, and invertebrates associated with clean, fast-flowing water. Access to Rowantree Linn requires local knowledge and a willingness to explore the countryside around Bellingham. The waterfall is not one of Northumberland's major tourist attractions with formal visitor facilities, but rather represents the kind of hidden gem that rewards those who take the time to discover the area's network of footpaths and burns. Bellingham itself serves as the practical base for visiting the falls, offering parking, accommodation, and basic amenities including shops and pubs. The village has a petrol station and serves as a gateway to the wilder country to the north and west. Walking routes in the area often follow rights of way across farmland and through the wooded cleughs (steep-sided valleys) that characterize this landscape. Ordnance Survey maps of the area, particularly the Explorer series covering the North Pennines, are essential for navigation, as paths can be indistinct and the terrain occasionally challenging. Visitors should be prepared for typical upland conditions with appropriate footwear and weatherproof clothing, as the weather in this part of Northumberland can change rapidly. The nearby Pennine Way and other long-distance paths pass through the broader Bellingham area, and the falls might be incorporated into longer circular walks exploring the local network of burns and woodland. The Bellingham area has historical connections to lead mining, forestry, and agricultural industries that shaped the landscape over centuries. While Rowantree Linn itself may not have specific industrial heritage, the broader context of the North Tyne valley includes evidence of these past activities. The village of Bellingham has its own points of interest including St Cuthbert's Church with its unusual stone-vaulted roof, built to resist fire-setting by Border Reivers. The combination of natural beauty, historical depth, and relative remoteness makes this area appealing to those seeking quieter, less commercialized landscapes where the relationship between human activity and the natural environment remains visible across the centuries.

Edlingham Castle is situated near a church in the village of Edlingham, about seven miles south west of Alnwick in Northumberland The castle is now in ruins with only part of the tower still standing about 10m tall. The tower has a major crack from top to ground with part of the structure leaning outwards. You can still see buttresses that were used to support the ceiling vaults, but the vault and parts of the tower have collapsed. The foundations and part of the walls of the castle buildings are still visible. The curtain walls are little more than earth covered mounds now. The castle is now in the care of English Heritage. Facilities There is a small parking area at the church beside the castle. The site of the castle was originally a 12th century manor house. It was fortified with ramparts, and surrounded with a wall and gatehouse in the 13th century. By the 17th century it had fallen into disrepair and stones from the castle were used to build nearby farm houses. The tower was left standing.

Black Force is a secluded waterfall located on Great Eggleshope Beck in the North Pennines of County Durham, England, situated in the parish of Middleton-in-Teesdale approximately two miles north of the village itself. The waterfall tumbles over resistant bands of limestone and sandstone characteristic of the Yoredale Series geology that dominates this part of the Upper Teesdale landscape. The falls typically consist of a stepped cascade where the beck drops through a narrow rocky gorge, with the water breaking over several ledges before plunging into a small pool below. During periods of high rainfall, particularly in winter and spring, Black Force can display considerable power and volume, with white water thundering through the narrow cleft, though in drier summer months the flow may diminish to a more modest trickle over the dark rocks that likely give the waterfall its name. Great Eggleshope Beck rises in the moorland expanse to the northwest of Middleton-in-Teesdale, draining a catchment area characterized by heather moorland, rough grassland, and peat bogs typical of the North Pennine uplands. The beck flows generally southeastward through Eggleshope Valley, a quiet dale that remains less frequented than some of its neighboring valleys in Teesdale. The stream passes through an area of mineral-rich soils and varied geology before eventually joining the River Tees system. The valley and its watercourses have been shaped by millennia of erosion, with the beck cutting down through successive rock layers to create the waterfalls and rapids that punctuate its course, of which Black Force represents one of the more notable features. The landscape surrounding Black Force is quintessentially North Pennine in character, with open moorland extending across the higher ground and rough pasture occupying the lower slopes and valley floor. The area forms part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, recognized for its distinctive upland scenery, geological importance, and relative remoteness. Vegetation in the vicinity includes typical moorland species such as heather, bilberry, and various grasses, while the damper areas near the beck support sedges and mosses. Birdlife in this upland environment may include species such as curlew, lapwing, and skylark on the open moor, while dippers and grey wagtails are characteristic of the fast-flowing becks and streams. The area's relatively low visitor numbers help maintain its tranquil character and allow wildlife to thrive with minimal disturbance. Access to Black Force requires a walk from Middleton-in-Teesdale, as the waterfall lies in open countryside without direct road access. Visitors typically park in Middleton-in-Teesdale itself, where public parking is available, and then follow public rights of way or permitted paths northward into Eggleshope Valley. The walk involves crossing rough pasture and moorland terrain, and appropriate footwear is essential as conditions underfoot can be wet and boggy, particularly after rain. The route is not waymarked as prominently as more popular destinations in Teesdale, and navigation skills are beneficial, especially in poor weather when mist can reduce visibility across the open moorland. The waterfall's relative remoteness means that it receives far fewer visitors than better-known falls such as High Force or Cauldron Snout elsewhere in Teesdale. Middleton-in-Teesdale serves as the nearest settlement offering facilities for visitors, with the village providing accommodation options, shops, and refreshments. The village has a long history as a center for lead mining in Upper Teesdale, and the surrounding landscape bears numerous traces of this industrial heritage, including spoil heaps, shafts, and the remains of processing facilities, though these features are more prominent in some areas than around Black Force itself. The wider Teesdale region is renowned for its rare upland flora, particularly the unique assemblage of arctic-alpine plants that survive on the sugar limestone outcrops, though the immediate vicinity of Black Force on Great Eggleshope Beck is somewhat removed from the most botanically significant sites. The relative obscurity of Black Force means that it features less prominently in published walking guides and tourist literature compared to Teesdale's major waterfalls, contributing to its peaceful character but also meaning that detailed historical records or folklore specifically associated with this waterfall are limited. The name "Black Force" follows the common Northern English pattern where "force" denotes a waterfall (derived from Old Norse "foss"), while "black" likely refers to the dark appearance of the wet rocks or the shadowed nature of the gorge. Such names are common throughout the Pennines and Lake District, reflecting the Norse linguistic influence that persisted in these upland regions.

Bowes Castle is situated in the village of Bowes in County Durham. The ruins of the keep are all that remains, and the ruins are now managed by English Heritage, a body responsible for protecting the historical environment The castle was built around 1136 on the site of an old Roman fort guarding the Stainforth Pass through the Pennines. The castle was built by Alan, Count of Brittany, but after the death of Alan's son, ownership of the castle passed to the crown. King Henry II built a massive stone keep in the 1170s. In 1173 Bowes Castle was attacked and damaged by King William I of Scotland. The castle was besieged in 1322 in a local feud, and the castle fell into ruin.

Aydon Castle is located near the town of Corbridge, Northumberland, where it stands in a secluded woodland setting next to the steep valley of the Cor Burn. The castle is naturally defended by the slope to the Burn on one side, and has curtain walls on the other. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building. The castle is now managed by English Heritage and is open to the public. Aydon Castle is a fortified manor house. It was built by Robert de Reymes in 1296. It was originally built as an undefended two-storey home with a solar, dining hall and kitchen on the upper floor. In 1305 de Reymes obtained a licence to crenellate his property and added battlements and curtain walls. Aydon was captured by the Scots in 1315 and again in 1346. The castle was renovated in the middle of the 16th century. In the 17th century it was converted into a farm, and remained in use as a farm until 1966. Since then, the castle has been restored.

Belsay Castle is located at Belsay, Northumberland, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building. The castle is a three storey rectangular pele tower with four rounded corner turrets and battlements. The tower has a vaulted basement containing the kitchen, with a well. Above is a hall and a solar with fireplaces. The tower has two wings at the south west and north west corners. Belsay Castle is now administered by English Heritage and is open the public. Belsay Castle was built about 1370 and was the home of the Middleton family. In 1614 Thomas Middleton built a new two storey range in the style of a manor house attached to the tower. There was a west wing added in 1711. This wing was partly demolished in 1872 by Sir Arthur Middleton during renovations. The castle was abandoned as a residence by the family in the early 19th century.

Corby Linn is a waterfall located on the Hawkhope Burn within the expansive Kielder Forest in Northumberland, England. The waterfall sits at OS grid reference NY713906, at coordinates 55.209259, -2.451753, placing it in the remote northern reaches of England's largest man-made woodland. The fall represents one of numerous watercourses that drain the upland terrain of this border region, where burns and streams cut through the landscape as they flow toward larger river systems. The character of Corby Linn reflects the typical features of upland Northumberland waterfalls, where water cascades over resistant rock formations shaped by millennia of erosion and the geological legacy of ancient volcanic and sedimentary processes that formed the Cheviot Hills and surrounding terrain. The Hawkhope Burn itself is a tributary stream flowing through this heavily forested landscape, fed by rainfall and runoff from the surrounding moorland and plantation areas. The burn's catchment lies within the broader Kielder Water and Forest Park area, one of the most extensive forested regions in England, covering approximately 250 square miles. The watercourses in this region typically exhibit variable flow patterns, with the most impressive displays occurring during periods of sustained rainfall or spring snowmelt when the burns run full and the waterfalls demonstrate their most vigorous character. During drier summer months, flow can diminish considerably, though the shaded forest environment helps maintain more consistent moisture levels than would be found on exposed moorland. The surrounding landscape of Kielder Forest is dominated by commercial coniferous plantation, primarily Sitka spruce, which was established from the 1920s onward by the Forestry Commission. This extensive afforestation transformed what was previously open moorland and rough grazing land into one of Europe's largest man-made forests. The forest now provides habitat for diverse wildlife despite its commercial nature, with species including red squirrels, roe deer, otters along the waterways, and numerous bird species. The remote location and limited human disturbance make this area particularly valuable for wildlife, and the presence of watercourses like Hawkhope Burn creates important riparian corridors through the otherwise uniform plantation landscape. Access to Corby Linn requires navigation through Kielder Forest's extensive network of forestry tracks and paths. The remote location means visitors should be prepared for walking through working forest terrain, with appropriate footwear and navigation equipment essential. The Kielder area is served by several car parks and visitor facilities, particularly around Kielder Water reservoir and the main visitor centers, though specific access to this particular waterfall may require consulting detailed Ordnance Survey maps and potentially covering several miles on foot through forest tracks. The area's remoteness contributes to its character but also means amenities are limited, with the nearest substantial facilities located at Kielder Castle or the Leaplish Waterside Park visitor center some distance away. The historical context of this location is tied to the broader story of the Anglo-Scottish borders, a region long characterized by conflict, reiving (raiding), and the activities of border families. The name "Corby" likely derives from Old Norse or Old English origins, potentially relating to ravens (corbies in Scots) or other topographical features. Before the twentieth-century afforestation, this landscape would have been quite different, with open moorland and scattered farms supporting sheep grazing and limited cultivation. The creation of Kielder Forest represented a dramatic transformation of the landscape, driven by the need for strategic timber reserves following World War I and the recognition of Britain's vulnerability due to limited domestic timber production. The ecological significance of waterfalls and burns within Kielder Forest extends beyond their aesthetic appeal. These watercourses provide crucial connectivity through the forest landscape, supporting aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, and serving as movement corridors for mammals. The spray zones around waterfalls create locally humid microclimates that support different vegetation communities, including mosses, liverworts, and ferns that thrive in the constant moisture. The presence of native deciduous trees along some stream corridors, mixed with the dominant conifers, adds structural diversity to the forest ecosystem. Water quality in these upland streams is generally high, though forestry operations and the acidifying effects of coniferous needles can influence the chemical composition of the water. For visitors exploring the Kielder area, Corby Linn represents one of numerous natural features worth discovering, though it may be less publicized than the main attractions centered around Kielder Water reservoir. The forest offers extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation, including mountain biking on purpose-built trails, walking routes of varying difficulty, and the famous Kielder Observatory, which takes advantage of the area's status as England's darkest sky park for stargazing. Those seeking out waterfalls in the area should be aware that many features require off-trail navigation and that conditions can change significantly with weather, making winter visits particularly challenging due to reduced daylight hours and potentially hazardous conditions underfoot.

St Mary's Lighthouse stands on a small tidal island at Whitley Bay on the Northumberland coast, connected to the mainland by a concrete causeway that is submerged at high tide and accessible for only a few hours around low water. The lighthouse, built in 1898 and decommissioned in 1984, is one of the most photogenic and accessible lighthouses in northeastern England, its white-painted tower and keeper's cottages reflected in the tidal pools around the island's base and backed by the grey North Sea. The lighthouse replaced an older coal-burning beacon that had warned ships of the rocky coastline here since the seventeenth century. The current structure is a conventional British lighthouse design of the late Victorian period, built in Northumberland limestone with a tower rising 36 metres from the rock to the light. Trinity House operated the lighthouse until its decommissioning, when North Tyneside Council took over the site and converted it into a visitor attraction while preserving the lighthouse buildings and their interpretation value. The island and its surrounding area function as a Local Nature Reserve, the tidal pools around the causeway supporting interesting marine life including anemones, crabs and various seaweed species exposed at low tide. The grassland on the island is managed for wildflowers and provides nesting habitat for a variety of coastal birds. From the island's outer rocks, views extend north along the Northumberland coast toward Coquet Island and south toward Tynemouth and the Tyne estuary. Visitors can climb the lighthouse tower, which provides panoramic views along this flat coastal section that are otherwise difficult to obtain, and explore the interpretive displays in the keeper's cottages about the history of lighthouse operation and the specific history of St Mary's. The causeway crossing, which gives the visit a pleasantly adventurous character, must be timed carefully according to the tide tables posted at the mainland end. The surrounding coast north of Whitley Bay provides pleasant walking along Northumberland's sandy beaches, and the area is also home to a strong population of grey seals that haul out on rocky islets and can frequently be seen from the shore.

Wallington House in the Northumberland countryside near Cambo is one of the most interesting and most intellectually stimulating National Trust houses in northern England, a seventeenth and eighteenth-century house of considerable quality whose interior is remarkable for the Pre-Raphaelite paintings in the Central Hall commissioned by the Trevelyan family and for the connection to some of the most significant intellectual and artistic figures of the Victorian period. The house and its estate provide a combination of architectural quality, art history and the Northumberland landscape of considerable richness. The Central Hall of the house was roofed over in the 1850s and decorated with eight large paintings depicting the history of Northumberland from Roman times to the nineteenth century by William Bell Scott, an artist closely connected with the Pre-Raphaelite circle. The paintings, with their narrative ambition, their historical subject matter and their quality of observation, are among the most important examples of Victorian history painting outside the national collections. Ruskin, Millais, Rossetti and other major figures of the Victorian art world visited Wallington and the house was a significant cultural hub of the northern Pre-Raphaelite circle. The Northumberland walled garden is one of the finest in the National Trust's portfolio, its restored beds and the central ornamental pond providing an excellent horticultural complement to the house interior. The wider estate of farmland, woodland and the valley of the River Wansbeck provides excellent walking in the characteristic Northumberland countryside.

The Alnwick Garden is one of the most ambitious and most innovative garden projects of the early twenty-first century, a new garden created from scratch adjacent to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland from 1997 onward by the Duchess of Northumberland whose combination of the Grand Cascade, the Poison Garden, the Treehouse restaurant, the Labyrinth and the Rose Garden has created a destination attracting several hundred thousand visitors annually and widely credited with transforming the economic fortunes of this section of the Northumberland coast. The Grand Cascade, the central architectural feature of the garden, consists of twenty-one weirs descending a formal axis of considerable scale in a display of moving water that is one of the most impressive formal water features in any garden in Britain. The cascade is activated several times daily and the combination of the sound, movement and visual drama of the water feature creates an immediate and impressive introduction to the garden's ambitions. The Poison Garden is the most unusual and most talked-about section, a walled garden planted exclusively with toxic, narcotic and dangerous plants, from giant hogweed and deadly nightshade through cannabis and coca to the belladonna and henbane of the medieval herbalist tradition. The guided tours of the Poison Garden are among the most popular activities at Alnwick and the combination of horticultural knowledge, danger and dark history creates an experience quite unlike anything available in any other garden in Britain.

The Angel of the North is the most visible and the most discussed public artwork in Britain, a steel sculpture standing beside the A1 road at Gateshead in Tyne and Wear that has become one of the defining images of the northeast of England and a landmark of international reputation since its installation in February 1998. Created by sculptor Antony Gormley, the Angel rises 20 metres from its hillside position and spreads its wings 54 metres wide, making it one of the largest sculptures in Britain and ensuring its visibility to the millions of motorists who pass on the busy road below each year. Gormley conceived the work as a meditation on the transition from an age of coal and industry to an uncertain post-industrial future, placing the figure on a hilltop above the former Team Colliery whose pit baths still lie beneath the ground on which the Angel stands. The industrial heritage of the site was a deliberate choice: the connection between the figure and the mining community whose lives played out on this hillside gives the work a historical grounding that purely aesthetic public art often lacks. The wings, Gormley noted, are not the soft wings of religious iconography but the hard structural wings of aircraft, referencing both flight and the engineering tradition of the northeast. The technical achievement of the installation is considerable. The sculpture weighs 200 tonnes, the wings alone containing 110 tonnes of steel, and the structure is anchored by 600 tonne concrete foundations that extend twenty metres into the ground to counteract the wind loads on the wing surfaces. The steel was manufactured by Hartlepool Steel Fabrications, a surviving example of the heavy industrial tradition the Angel commemorates, and the structure is designed to withstand wind speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Public reaction to the sculpture before its installation was polarised, with considerable scepticism among local residents who doubted whether the cost was justified and questioned the aesthetic merits of the work. Twenty-five years on, the Angel has been adopted with unmistakable affection by the northeastern communities it was meant to serve and has become a source of regional pride that was initially difficult to predict.

Northumberland National Park is the emptiest and most remote of England's national parks, a vast landscape of moorland, ancient woodland and river valleys covering over 1,000 square kilometres of the Cheviot Hills and the moorland between them and Hadrian's Wall that is home to the smallest permanent population of any English national park and contains some of the most completely rural and least disturbed countryside in England. The park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, reflecting the almost complete absence of light pollution in this thinly populated region and making it one of the finest places in England for observing the night sky. The Cheviots form the principal topographic feature of the park, a broad massif of rounded, peat-topped hills rising to 815 metres at The Cheviot itself and extending across the Anglo-Scottish border into the Scottish Borders. The hills provide excellent upland walking of the open, trackless variety that rewards navigation skills and the ability to manage moorland conditions, and the combination of complete solitude, wide views and the historical resonance of this borderland gives Cheviot walking a character quite different from the more frequented national parks to the south. Hadrian's Wall forms the southern boundary of the park, and the central sector of the Wall traversing the Whin Sill escarpment at Housesteads, Vindolanda and Steel Rigg represents the finest and most complete section of the Roman frontier. The combination of the Roman military landscape, the medieval castles and peel towers scattered through the valleys and the prehistoric hillforts visible on every ridge creates an archaeological layering of exceptional depth. Kielder Water, the largest man-made lake in England by capacity, occupies the western section of the park and is surrounded by the largest planted forest in England.