Northumberland National Park Area Guide

 

With a population of just 2,000 people, Northumberland National Park is officially the least densely populated of England’s national parks by quite some way – its nearest rival has around 10 times the population density. It’s also one of the least-visited of the UK's 15 national parks – so if you're looking for some space and solitude, this is the place to come.

Those visitors that do make it to this part of north-west England will discover beautifully unspoiled landscapes made up of forest, moorland and heather-clad hills, with more than 400 Scheduled Ancient Monuments to seek out and lots of wildlife to be seen around the park’s protected habitats. Read on for an introduction to Northumberland National Park and then explore further with Pitchup’s detailed guides to the park's activities.

Where is Northumberland National Park?

As the name suggests, Northumberland National Park sits entirely within Northumberland, covering around a quarter of the county’s land area. This is the northernmost national park in England, with its northern edge running along the border of Scotland.

Northumberland National Park is home to several well-known geographic features including the Cheviot Hills, Kielder Water and Kielder Forest. There are, however, very few urban settlements of any size – most of the villages in the park count only a couple of hundred residents at most. City life isn’t far away though – good road access means you can get into the heart of the park from Newcastle-upon-Tyne with a drive of around an hour.

Things to do in Northumberland National Park

With 410 square miles (1,050 sq km) of peaceful open space to explore, it’s all about the outdoor activities in Northumberland National Park. More than 700 miles of trails await for hiking and cycling, and the park’s waterways have lots of options for fishing and watersports. The park is packed with heritage attractions too, from the ancient stones of Hadrian’s Wall to the Victorian Black house at Catcleugh.

The remoteness and low population of Northumberland National Park also means it's a fantastic place for stargazing – the lack of light pollution means that these are officially the darkest skies in England. As a result, the whole of the national park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, making it the largest Gold Tier Dark Sky Park in Europe.

This mix of activities also means that Northumberland National Park is an excellent place for outdoor breaks, whether you’re going camping or opting for the additional comfort, luxury and weatherproofing that comes with glamping. Either way, you'll be in prime position for days of outdoor activities and nights spent admiring the spectacular skies.

Popular places in Northumberland National Park

The sparse population of Northumberland National Park means that it doesn’t have as many major attractions or ‘honeypot’ villages as some other parks. And that’s part of the attraction of the area – this is a place where the rewards are open spaces and relatively crowd-free trails rather than lots of sights to tick off.

That said, Northumberland National Park does have a couple of real must-sees that should be included on any first-timer’s itinerary. The first of those is Hadrian's Wall, which runs through the southern section of the park and includes places like the Temple of Mithras and Housesteads Roman Fort. The other is Kielder Water and Forest Park, a top destination for wildlife, stargazing, outdoor activities and family attractions and a great place to base yourselves for a variety-packed break.