11 Outdoors- Other to Explore in Northumberland

Allen Banks and Staward Gorge make up the largest area of ancient semi-natural woodland in Northumberland. This wilderness garden was created by Susan Davidson who lived at nearby Ridley Hall in the 19th century. The property has been designated a site of special scientific interest for its rich flora and fauna. There is a large suspension bridge which has been ruined by the flooding of January 2005.

Bolam Lake Country Park is located near Bolam, Northumberland. The lake was constructed c.1817 for Lord Decies of Bolam. John Dobson was commissioned to lay out the grounds in 1816, including the 25-acre artificial lake and woodland. Take a leisurely stroll around the lake or explore the woodland. Bring a picnic and enjoy a summer's day with the family or explore on your own and discover the wildlife which makes Bolam Lake so special, including red squirrel, roe deer, great spotted woodpecker, a

Budle Bay is a 1 mile wide bay on the North Sea in Northumberland. It is one of the best bird watching locations in Britain. The vast mud flats exposed at low tide form part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and this rich feeding ground is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. The whole area is part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and is very popular with birdwatchers, particularly in the winter when thousands of wildfowl and waders spend their winter on the bay's mud fl

Crag Lough sits immediately below Hadrian's Wall, and is one of Northumberland's finest low to mid-grade crags, offering over 100 recorded routes, the majority of which are in the perennially popular HS to HVS range. At this point Hadrian's Wall is at the top of a line of crags, the Whin Sill, with Crag Lough at the foot of the crags.

Druridge Bay is a living landscape, rich in wildlife and with big plans for the future. The bay is a stunning seven mile stretch of sand running from Amble to Cresswell and is a popular place to ride, cycle, walk, paddle and surf. Today there is just the sound of the surf and seabirds, but the beach has a fascinating and varied past. Within the park you will also find a series of smaller nature reserves home to everything from a resident herd of swans to rare birds like the Golden Eye Snipe.

Kielder water is the largest man-made reservoir in Europe, holding 200 billion litres of water. It is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity of water and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, one of the biggest man-made woodlands in Europe. The scheme was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy an expected rise in demand for water to support a booming UK industrial economy.

Cherryburn is a cottage in Mickley, Northumberland, England, which was the birthplace of Thomas Bewick, an English wood engraver and ornithologist. The cottage, its adjacent farmhouse and large grounds, have been managed by the National Trust since 1991 when they took over responsibility for the site from the Bewick Birthplace Trust.Cherryburn is now open to the public 7 days a week between February and November.

Northumberlandia is a unique piece of public art set in a 19-hectare community park providing free public access, with four miles of footpaths on and around the landform, along with a café and visitor centre. The park’s centrepiece is ‘The Lady of the North’, a stunning human landform sculpture of a reclining lady, scaling 100 feet in height and spanning a quarter of a mile.

Plessey Woods Country Park is set in 100 acres of enchanting woodland, wild-flower-clad meadows and romantic riverside as the River Blyth runs through the park. Its intricate network of paths and trails make this a great spot for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and picnickers. The beautiful riverside walk along the River Blyth offers a chance of spotting otters and kingfishers. It was one of the iconic attraction in this area which offers a peaceful life.

The Sycamore Gap tree is one of the most photographed in the country. It stands in a dramatic dip in Hadrian’s Wall in the Northumberland National Park. In late 2016 it took the crown for English Tree of the Year in the Woodland Trust’s awards.