Northumberland

Northumberland is in the North/East of England. It is the Northernmost of the English counties, separated from Scotland by the Cheviot Hills and the Tweed River and borders on the North Sea. The terrain is level along the wild, rugged coast line and hilly in the interior, where high moor lands alternate with fertile valleys. Other rivers are the Tyne, the Derwent, the Wansbeck, the Till, the Alno, and the Coquet. In the past, the economy was dominated by coal mining, shipping, shipbuilding and repairing and the production of heavy electrical machinery, but these have suffered a heavy decline. Hadrian's Wall is probably the most notable feature and was built in Roman times. The area suffered severely during the border wars between England and Scotland.

For the visitor though, the legacy of the Border wars of the 14th-16th centuries have resulted in Northumberland having more castles to explore than any other English county. One particular example is on the tiny Holy Island, population: 180. Originally known as Lindisfarne and often described as "The Jewel of the Northumberland Coast", Holy Island is only accessible across a causeway at low tide. In the 7th century it was one of the great seats of Christian learning in Western Europe and was where the beautiful Lindisfarne Gospels were written. Adjacent to the ruins of the Benedictine Priory, destroyed by Henry VIII, is a Visitor Centre commemorating the life of the monks.

The stones from the Priory were used to build the unforgettable Lindisfarne Castle. Built on the orders of Henry VIII in 1550 to protect Holy Island from attack by the Scots, the castle was converted into a private home by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1903. The rooms are filled with a fine collection of antique furniture, mostly oak, of the early 17th century. Ornaments and pictures are in harmony creating a unique and picturesque home. The castle's small walled garden was designed by Gertrude Jekyll and has been newly replanted according to her original design. The experience is mystical and memorable.