Funtastic facts about Northumberland:
- Its England’s northern-most county.
- Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland is home to the largest man-made lake and forest in northern Europe. (Encarta)
- The Farne Islands and Coquet Island are off the coast of Northumberland in the North Sea. The islands are reserves for many bird species including puffins and the rare roseate tern.
- Northumberland has its own national park filled with beautiful trees, rivers and hills. People who like walking love to come and holiday in the park.
- Two famous footballers from the 1960s come from Northumberland. They are borthers – Jack Charlton and Sir Bobby Charlton, born in Ashington. (Encarta). Jack and Bobby were part of the England World Cup winning team in 1966.
- One of Britain’s most famous designers of gardens, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, was from Northumberland.
- The population of Northumberland is just over 311,000 people. Its population density is only 62 people per square kilometer, giving it one of the lowest population densities in England. That means plenty of space for everyone!
- Northumberland is home to many artists who have come to live here because they are inspired by the fantastic landscape, beautiful coast and unusual light.
Amazing historical facts:
- Northumberland has its own flag which dates from the 7th century.
- Northumberland is called the Cradle of Christianity because St Aidan and St Cuthbert became leading figures on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in the 7th century.
- In the early 7th century the kingdoms of Dernia and Bernicia were united to form the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria.
- Coal had been mined since the Roman occupation and from the 13th century had developed.
- In the 16th century Northumberland struggled with a time of lawlessness during which the Boarder Reivers raided the lands. The Border Reivers were powerful bandit families who lived by raiding each other’s cattle.
- This time of fighting and raiding lasted until 1603 when the English and Scottish crowns were united under James I (James VI in Scotland).
Places of interest
The Alnwick Garden
Denwick Lane, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1YU
Tel: +44 01665 511350
Child Admission: 1p when accompanied with an adult.
www.alnwickgarden.com
Ride around in the pedal-powered tractors and try to catch the water in the bucket.
Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland Archives, and Country Park
QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Tel: +44 01670 528080
Child Admission: Free
www.experiencewoodhorn.com
Interact with displays around the museum. Take a ride on the train around the QEII Country Park (where the museum is located).
Northumberland Seabird Centre
The Quayside, Warkworth Harbour, Amble, Northumberland, NE65 0AP
Tel: +44 01665 710835
Child Admission: Free
www.northumberlandseabirdcentre.co.uk
Control the interactive CCTV camera based on Coquet Island (1 mile offshore) to view the puffins, seals, and rare seabirds.
Castle Mania
Coquet Enterprise Park, Amble, Northumberland, NE65 0PE
Tel: +44 01665 714888
Child Admission: Age 1-4: £2.90, Age 7-12: £3.70, Under 1: Free
www.castlemania-uk.com
A purpose-built indoor adventure play centre.
Whitehouse Farm Centre
North White House Farm, Stannington, Northumberland, NE61 6AW
Tel: +44 01670 789998
Child Admission: Age 2-16: £5.95, Under 2: Free
www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk
Pet and feed the animals in the farm.
The Sanctuary Wildlife Care Centre
Crowden Hill Farm, Ulgham, Northumberland, NE61 3NH
Tel: +44 01670 791778
Child Admission: Age 2-16: £4.00, Under 2: Free
www.wildlife-sanctuary.co.uk
See over 100 animals in care which aren’t able to return back to the wild.
RNLI Grace Darling Museum
Radcliffe Road, Bamburgh, Northumberland, NE69 7AE
Tel: +44 01668 214910
Child Admission: Free
www.rnli.org.uk
Learn the story and history of Grace Darling.
Mapping Minigolf at Kielder
Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder, Northumberland, NE48 1BT
Tel: +44 0870 240 3549
Child Admission: £2.00
Minigolf course derived from old and new maps of Kielder.
Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Horncliffe (Nr Berwick)
Horncliffe, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2XT
Tel: +44 01289 386362
Child Admission: Free
http://www.chainbridgehoney.co.uk/
Learn about bees, honey and beekeeping.
Morwick Ice Cream Parlour, Morwick (Nr Warkworth)
Morwick Farm, Acklington, Northumberland, NE65 9DG
Tel: +44 01665 711210
Child Admission: Free
http://www.royaldouble.com/
Homemade ice cream. Children’s outdoor play area.
For more information on places to visit:
Click www.visitnorthumberland