10 Reasons Why Northumberland Should Be On Your Staycation List in 2021
Following on from our post about our recent project with The Explorer’s Road (You can read that here) we thought it could be the perfect opportunity to suggest a visit to Northumberland for your staycation this year.
Here are our top reasons as to why it should make your list!
1. The Castles. Did you know Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England? It boasts over 70 castle sites for you to explore. Standing guard 150 feet above the spectacular Northumberland coastline for over 1,400 years, our favourite is, of course, the stunning Bamburgh Castle.
2. The Dark Skies. In 2013, a section of Northumberland was awarded Gold-tier International Dark Sky status. This means the sky above Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park was officially recognised as Europe’s largest area of protected night skies. Thanks to minimal light pollution and great conservation efforts, Northumberland proudly offers some of the best stargazing experiences and clearest night skies in England. With the naked eye, you’ll see roughly 2,000 stars and you can easily trace the fuzzy arc of the Milky Way. (Credit to VisitNorthumberland).
3. The TV and film connections. Hadrian’s Wall was a big inspiration for Game of Thrones writer George R. R. Martin, as big fans of the series may know. Much like our very own Hadrian’s Wall, The Wall in Game of Thrones is also in the north and stretches from coast to coast. Alnwick Castle starred as the magical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
4. There is so much to explore. From the multi award winning Alnwick Garden; home to the world’s largest Tai Haku Cherry Orchard and biggest treehouse, to The Sill which gives Northumberland and the rest of the UK a new world-class facility and visitor experience in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5. The History. Thanks to its Roman history, Northumberland has been firmly on the map for centuries. Many of its towns – some of which can be clearly traced back to the 12th century – are remarkably well-preserved in spite of their age and have plenty of artefacts to explore.
6. It’s lovely and quiet! Northumberland is the most remote and sparsely populated National Park in Britain, with a population of only around 2,000 people.
7. Wonderful wildlife! Every year, more than 1,500 grey seal pups are born on Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast. The Chillingham Wild Cattle are rarer than giant pandas! The unique herd of wild cattle are believed to be the sole descendants of herds that once roamed the forests of ancient Britain. It is thought they have been living at Chillingham for more than 700 years.
8. The Seafood. Experience the true taste of the fresh seafood by sampling some of the finest and freshest deep sea delights along the Northumberland Coast. Recommendations include Northumberland Seafood Centre in Amble, The Jolly Fisherman in Craster and The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses.
9. The coast. From castle-side coastline to isolated bays and quiet coves, Northumberland has over 30 miles of beaches for you to explore. There are plenty of traditional seaside towns and villages, with their fish shacks, sea-view pubs, and local fish and chip shops to enjoy too. Bamburgh was recently voted number one seaside destination in the UK by the consumer magazine, Which? making it the perfect Northumberland staycation location.
10. You could call in and see us in Newcastle! If you have time while you’re out on staycation in Northumberland, you can call in and see us in our offices in Newcastle, we’re not too far away and we make an excellent cuppa!
Did you know that Blumilk specialise in travel, transport and destination marketing? We’ve worked with clients including The Alnwick Garden, Bamburgh Castle, The Sill, Union Chain Bridge and Cumbria Tourism to name just a few. Get in touch to see how we can help you.
