A short drive north from Hadrian’s Wall through the stunning Northumberland National Park will take you into the Heart of Northumberland. The village of Rothbury is at the centre of the Heart of Northumberland and visitors will find that Coquetdale and the surrounding area is studded with beautiful villages. During the summer months, many of these traditional communities celebrate their rural heritage with an annual agricultural show complete with stock judging, craft and bakery competitions, and working dog exhibitions.
This area has many castles and other significant historic sites including:
Cragside House Gardens and Estate
The innovative home of Lord Armstrong, and the first home in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity, there are lots of gadgets to discover, as well as 1,000 acres to explore and 14 waymarked routes, watersports, and an adventure play area, plus lots more family fun.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside
Alnwick Castle
The family seat of the Duke of Northumberland, you might recognise Alnwick Castle from the Harry Potter films or the Downton Abbey TV series. There is so much to do here, that coupled with Alnwick Gardens and the town of Alnwick itself, you could easily spend a whole weekend exploring! With a Dragon Quest, Broomstick Training, daily shows, tours of the Castle, exhibitions, and daily activities, not to mention regular special events and activities, plus trying your hand at medieval crafts, you will definitely not be bored!
https://www.alnwickcastle.com/
Alnwick Gardens
Winner of the The North East top Large Visitor attraction in 2018, Alnwick Gardens is the result of the dream and creation of the Duchess of Northumberland. There is so much to see and do, from the Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf, to the Ornamental Garden, the Rose Garden, the Bamboo Labyrinth, the Poison Garden, and the Cherry Orchard.
Visit the Treehouse for a delicious sit-down meal made with locally sourced ingredients or enjoy a light lunch from the Potting Shed; discover more about the extensive community work and projects that Alnwick Gardens are involved in, or even hold your wedding or conference there.
https://www.alnwickgarden.com/
Wallington Hall
Donated to the National Trust by Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan, Wallington House and Gardens is full of beautiful furniture, pre-Raphaelite paintings, lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland, all just waiting to be explored and admired. Hire a bike, walk your dog, explore the hidden walled garden, or go for a bite to eat in the tearoom. It's a perfect day out!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington
Chillingham Castle
Just twenty minutes from the seaside, this romantic and thriving 13th-century castle is famed for its wild beasts and ghoulish ghosts. With gorgeous gardens and grounds, the Formal Gardens and Woodland Walks are all fully open to the public during the season.
The wild cattle are a separate visitor attraction from the castle and are the only wild cattle in the world, sole survivors of herds that once roamed the forests of Britain, at one time held sacred and pre-Christian pagans sacrificed them to their gods.