Heart of Hadrian's Wall
...a day is never long enough
things to do
Take a few deep breaths. Back to nature or back in time, here in the Heart of Hadrian's Wall Country you can get to know your Reiver ancestry, explore Roman forts or walk chunks of the Wall. You don't need to do it all at once! It's all there for you to see, as and when you want. Over centuries man and nature have battled over this landscape and the scars are there still for you to explore.
Arts and Crafts
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You are welcome to visit my fine art gallery, where I paint, teach and display my work. You will find a range of my paintings, prints, posters, books and gifts to browse or buy. Places on my painting and drawing classes are sometimes available.
Leisure Activities
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Explore the hidden gems and iconic sites of beautiful Northumberland. Learn about the rise and fall of one of Rome’s most famous constructions at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall. Discover why Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. See romantic moorland, sweeping coastlines and...
Leisure Activities
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Glendale Pool is a self contained, indoor, heated swimming pool, available for private hire.
L10m x W5m x D1.9m
Water temp 31oC floats and toys available
Family friendly all weather activity
Walking
Offering Self-Guided Walking Tours in England, Scotland and Ireland.
Heritage
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This quaint small stone cottage was built circa 1760 to accommodate mining families. The furnishings reflect the year the great rail pioneer, George Stephenson, was born here (1781), when his whole family lived in the one room. The property is managed by the National Trust. Don't miss...
Beamish Museum
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Museums
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Beamish is a wonderful place that brings history to life but you must allow a full day to fully experience the extent of the exhibits, and even then you may not see everything in one visit! Beamish Museum contains an operational tramway with historic trams which...
Railways
The Cumbrian Coast Line, as its name suggests, hugs the scenic coastline between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. For much of the route, the line runs very close to the coast and links the waters of the Solway with those of Morecambe Bay; both sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). Not...
Railways
This historic and scenic route was one of the last main line railways built in Britain. It was built by the Midland Railway to allow it to have its own route into Scotland, rather than having to depend on its rival, the LNWR. The line was opened...
Vindolanda
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Forts and Castles
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Vindolanda is a fascinating Roman fort and civilian settlement lying just to the south of Hadrian's Wall. You can watch the archaeologists, who are on site seven days a week (weather permitting) from April to mid-September and see artefacts as they are discovered as well has having the opportunity...
Railways
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The South Tynedale Railway is a new narrow gauge railway, built to British two feet gauge or 610 mm metric equivalent, which runs from Alston in Cumbria, into Northumberland, in Northern England. It has been constructed by volunteers on part of the formation of a former standard gauge branch...
Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site
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Heritage
The Hadrian’s Wall corridor, which extends west, from South Shields on the North East Coast, following the line of Hadrian's Wall for 80 Roman miles (73 statute miles or 120 km), from Segedunum at Wallsend on the banks of the River Tyne to the shores of the Solway...
Railways
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With an unparalleled history dating back to 1725, spectacular scenery and a truly unique atmosphere, it is no wonder that the Tanfield Railway is the North East's biggest and most popular steam railway.. Less than half an hour from Newcastle and within easy reach of Tyneside,...
Railways
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The Weardale Railway, situated in County Durham, was a mothballed branch line from Bishop Auckland following the River Wear westwards to Eastgate-in- Weardale, a distance of approximately 18.7 miles. The line was originally built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1847 to transport limestone to the...
Railways
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This is the most recent of the heritage railways in the area and only opened in 2012. The Aln Valley Railway project is an ambitious plan to reopen the branch line from Alnmouth to Alnwick, the old county town of Northumberland and the ancestral home of the...
Railways
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A 15” gauge steam railway running from Heatherslaw, 6.4km to Etal Village - a return journey of 50 minutes. When operating trains leave Heatherslaw every hour on the hour from 11am-3pm inclusive and return from Etal on the half hour from 11.30am-3.30pm inclusive. All tickets are for...
Railways
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The Eden Valley Railway is based at Warcop in Cumbria (or Westmorland, in old money), just off the A66 between Appleby and Brough. It has a selection of rolling stock, Diesel Multiple Units and Locomotives and a short running line . It is open every Sunday during...
Railways
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On the Cumbrian Coast line you could consider alighting at Ravensglass and enjoy a return trip on the “Au’d Ratty” as the narrow gauge Ravensglass and Eskdale Railway is known. The trip will take you from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park,...
Natural History
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England’s most northerly and least populated National Park is 400 square miles of Northumberland's glorious countryside, protected for its wildlife, tranquillity, biodiversity, dark skies and clean water. Stretching from Hadrian's Wall to the Scottish Border it encompasses the high moors and picturesque valleys of Tynedale, Redesdale and Coquetdale and...
Railways
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The Stainmore Railway is based at the Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre and is open every Saturday and Sunday with passenger trains running on selected dates. The aim is the full restoration of Kirkby Stephen East railway station and the development of a full working railway as...
The Queen’s Hall
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Music of Northumberland
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A magnificent early Victorian building which faces Hexham Abbey. From its christening as an arts centre in 1983 until the hand over to the charitable organisation, The Queen’s Hall’s resident theatre company Théâtre Sans Frontières is based here and opens all of its shows in the Theatre. ...
Railways
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This historic railway is sited south of Gateshead in Springwell village just east of the main A1 road near the Angel of the North Designed by George Stephenson and opened in 1826 the Bowes Railway is the only operational preserved standard gauge rope-hauled railway in the world....
Bird Watching
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Natural History
The National Nature Reserve at Greenlee Lough A birdhide and boardwalk through the reed beds. A National Park guide to the reserve is available from Once Brewed Visitor Centre. Greenlee Lough is used as winter feeding site for several species of wildfowl including the ducks, teal, wigeon...
Railways
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The Museum is located on the 1825 route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world's first steam-worked public railway. The site encompasses three significant Stockton & Darlington Railway buildings of the 1830s/50s: North Road Passenger Station, the Goods Shed and Hopetown Carriage Works. The museum...
Railways
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The Shildon branch of the National Railway Museum is well worth a visit. It is based on the site of the former Shildon Wagon Works and contains over 100 locomotives and about 200 items of rolling stock, as well as a vast collection of other railway related items and...
Railways
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Re-live the glorious days of the steam railway at Stephenson Railway Museum in North Shields. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's 'Billy', a forerunner of the world- famous Rocket. 'Billy' is joined by many other engines from the great age of steam including 'Jackie Milburn', named...
Railways
The routes of several closed lines can still be easily followed with bridges and stations still extant in numerous locations. Lines worthy of exploration include; - The Border Counties Railway linked the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, near Hexham, with the Border Union Railway at Riccarton Junction in...
Redefest
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Music of Northumberland
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Redefest is a community cultural and music festival that runs for one day in August each year in Northumberland's Upper Redesdale valley. The festival boasts over 12 hours of live music, kids activities, local food, real ale bar and workshops for adults and children.
Leisure Activities
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Visit the Explore North Pennines portal to discover the amazing range of leisure activities available across the North Pennines AONB. At the heart of this site is an interactive map which will allow you to search by activity, interest and location.
Bewcastle
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Forts and Castles
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Further away, but well worth the trip, is the castle at Bewcastle, built on the site of a Roman camp – and don't miss the 7th century carved Celtic Cross beside the austere little church (one of three such crosses in the Borders; one at Ruthven in Dumfriesshire beautifully...
Heritage
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The building is Grade 1 listed and dates from c.1100. It has splendid Roman Columns on the south side and pillars on the north side. Woodwork also dates from the Jacobean period and a number of Roman Artefacts are built into the walls. A Roman Altar is housed in...
Music of Northumberland
Bellingham All Acoustic or the Baa Club was established in August 2008. It is organised by local musicians Landermason and runs as a 'concert club' roughly once a month with a main guest and a support act. Concerts take place in venues in and around Bellingham so if you...
Shopping
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With over 50 outlet shops to choose from offering up to 60% OFF rrp on a host of famous brands, plus regular entertainment and live events all set within a unique environment, you have all the ingredients for a great day out.
Canny Crack
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Music of Northumberland
An entertainment band, playing traditional folk music, songs and telling stories. Their target audience is aged 0 - 110 and all ages in between. They love their audiences to be interactive and provide percussion instruments for people to join in. Repertoire includes Northumbrian, English, Scottish, Irish and American folk...
Birdoswald Fort
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Forts and Castles
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Open daily from March to October. Times may vary. (Visitors with English Heritage membership qualify for an entrance fee discount). The fort at Birdoswald, with surely the most breathtaking position above the river gorge, is well excavated and, most importantly, shows how life continued on the site after the...
Tours and Guides
Walk Hadrian’s Wall along the Best bits’ with a guide to explain. I've been living and working in this area all my life and having been a teacher have spent a great deal of it inspiring and enthusing people about History. I have conducted many tours...
Music of Northumberland
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Promote accordion and fiddle playing in the Tynedale area with the emphasis on traditional music Tynedale Accordion and Fiddle Club meets on the third Thursday of the month March-November at 7:30pm until 11.pm Admission £4.00 pay at the door. Players Free Admission. All...
Walking
Free Voluntary Ranger led guided walks Every summer a programme of guided walks and talks starting at various locations throughout the National Park. These walks take in some of the most interesting and beautiful parts of the National Parks from Hadrian's Wall in the south up to...
Museums
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Our permanent displays are based on our five main collections: The Border Counties Railway 1862-1958 comprised 42 miles of track from Hexham on the River Tyne to Riccarton, across the Scottish border, and had a marked impact on life in a previously remote area. A...
Fishing
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Natural History
The Tyne is rightly regarded as the best Salmon River in England and Wales. The North Tyne and the South Tyne meet to form the River Tyne. All three strands of the Tyne River are splendid for game fishing and the North Tyne and River Tyne provide good coarse...
Music Sessions
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Music of Northumberland
Here’s a list of informal folk and acoustic music sessions round the area: Barrasford Arms, Barrasford - 2nd & 4th Sundays of every month at 8.00pm (20.00hrs). Mixed session of music and song The Feathers, Hedley on the Hill -...
Leisure Activities
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Founded in 1876, the club have appeared in 37 Northumberland Senior Cup Finals, winning the cup on 23 occasions.
The club have a number of teams and events for all ages, including Mums. For further information and fixtures visit the website.
Langley Castle
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Forts and Castles
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Langley Castle stands about two miles south of Haydon Bridge on the A686 road to Alston. It is at least 600 years old and is now run as a hotel. Langley’s history pre-dates the tower by some 200 years. It is known to have been the centre of a...
Walking
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This extensive area of gorge and river scenery, signposted off the A69 east of Bardon Mill. and managed by The National Trust, includes the 41-hectare (101-acre) Staward Peel Site of Special Scientific Interest. Allen Banks has miles of waymarked walks through ornamental and ancient woods where you may even...
Walking
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The Cramel Linn Waterfall, near Gilsland, is situated about a mile and a half up the River Irthing from the Popping Stone. You can enjoy a pleasant walk along the river or it would be a splendid place for a summer picnic or wild winter trek.
Heritage
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This is a beautiful church with a long history of worship by local families. There are numerous Kempe stained windows as well as the important memorials. The church has many Northumbrian characteristics with a western bellcote rather than a tower, a chancel almost as long as the four bay...
Forts and Castles
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Chesters Roman Fort is one of the most impressive visitor attractions on Hadrian's Wall and the best preserved Roman cavalary fort in Britain. Built almost 2000 years ago it housed a Roman army garrison who were guarding the nearby bridge across the River Tyne. You can imagine what life...
Chipchase Castle
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Forts and Castles
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Chipchase Castle is a 17th-century Jacobean mansion incorporating a substantial 14th-century Pele Tower which stands north of Hadrian’s Wall, near Bellingham. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building. Chipchase Castle, with its spectacular views, is a privately owned family home. The house is open...
Route 72
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Cycling
Route 72 starts in Kendal and makes its way around the Cumbrian coast via Barrow-in-Furness and Whitehaven to Silloth. From Silloth the route heads along the Solway Firth to Carlisle and across Northumberland to South Shields via Haltwhistle, roughly following Hadrian's Wall.
Heritage
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St Martin's Church was built in 1878 to replace an earlier one on the same site, which had been erected in 1789. Prior to that the Parish Church had been on the site of a Roman fort a mile and a half away to the north west, beside the...