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.

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

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.

A look inside This Is Northumberland 2023.

Discover the best of Autumn in Northumberland in 2022.

A sand tribute to Freya the walrus has been created in Seahouses, the seaside town where the arctic wanderer briefly made her home.

Before embarking on your #nland250 adventure, please take time to understand the things you can do to minimise the impact of your journey of discovery in Northumberland.

All 329 of Alnwick Garden’s Taihaku trees are now blushing with bright, white flowers.

The first Osprey arrived home from Africa to nest at Kielder this morning. He’s now waiting patiently with a fish for a female to join him.