Northumberland is one of the least visited counties in England. Its beaches are empty, its moorland undisturbed, its wildlife present in numbers that have disappeared elsewhere. Here's how to travel the Northumberland 250 responsibly and help keep it that way.

Northumberland's waterfalls don't shout for attention. Tucked into river gorges, ancient woodland and the remote folds of the Cheviots, they reward the curious and the committed in equal measure. Here are six of the best, from an easy woodland stroll to a full day in the wildest corner of the national park.

A series of special moments from around Northumberland we have discovered this April.

England has been without a golden eagle for 150 years. That is beginning to change, and Northumberland is at the centre of it. Here is what the recovery programme means for the landscapes of the Northumberland 250.

Northumberland is England's most overlooked county: more castles, darker skies and emptier roads than anywhere else in the country. The Northumberland 250 is the 254-mile road trip that connects all of it. Here's what each section looks like from behind the wheel.

Northumberland in spring is one of nature's great spectacles. From the first crocuses at Wallington Hall in late February to the legendary rhododendrons at Cragside in early June, the county comes alive with colour and wildlife. Here's your season-by-season guide to the best of spring on the Northumberland 250 route.

Northumberland is home to over 70 castle sites — but five stand above all others. From Bamburgh's thousand-year-old royal fortress to the romantic clifftop ruins of Dunstanburgh, England's castle kingdom is waiting to be explored. Here's your guide to the five must-see castles on the Northumberland 250 route, complete with visitor information and what makes each one unmissable.

The Kielder Forest Drive is one of the most dramatic sections of the Northumberland 250 — 12 miles of remote, unsealed road winding through England's largest working forest. Before you head into the trees, read our practical guide covering the toll, road conditions, vehicle suitability, speed limits, and opening times, so you can navigate it with confidence.

Key dates and events to plan your Northumberland 250 adventure around.

For a limited-time only we’re giving away a FREE Northumberland 250 Map with every copy of This Is Northumberland 2026 purchased from our online shop.

Chase the Northern Lights in Northumberland. Where England’s darkest skies and the solar maximum create rare opportunities to witness the Aurora Borealis close to home.

A giant redwood at the National Trust’s Cragside estate has been officially recognised as the world’s tallest living Christmas tree.

Pre-order This Is Northumberland 2026 to be in with a chance to win one of three exclusive prizes.

From medieval castles to ancient stone circles, Northumberland’s dramatic landscapes are steeped in centuries of history — and more than a few ghost stories. Here are some of the county’s most atmospheric sites, where the past is said to linger a little longer than elsewhere.

At Hexham Abbey from October 3rd - November 16th 2025.

Nestled between the bustling villages of Bamburgh and Holy Island, Ross Back Sands is a vast, windswept beach which feels almost entirely cut off from the rest of the Northumberland Coast.

From mid-August to early October, Northumberland’s wild heather bursts into bloom, transforming the moorlands into sweeping carpets of vivid purple.