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England,
Northumbria
Northumbria: -
Cleveland, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland.
Northumbria Tourist Board, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5UX (tel: (0191) 375 3000; fax: (0191) 386 0899; e-mail: enquiries@ntb.org.uk; web site: http://www.ntb.org.uk).
A region of contrasts, this area offers miles of coastline, city lights, quiet countryside, castles and cathedrals, industrial tourism, Hadrian's Wall and much more.
Northumberland: Northumberland, lying between the Scottish border and Tyne & Wear, is a rural county with numerous attractive villages and market towns. On its northern boundary it has Hadrian's Wall as its most famous landmark. The wall was built to protect Roman Britain from the incursions of the Picts and Scots from north of the border; much of the surviving architecture tells of centuries of border warfare, such as the chain of castles built to defend the countryside and the long Northumberland coastline. These include dramatic Bamburgh, gaunt craggy Dunstanburgh and impressive Alnwick. In contrast, the simple cross at Chollerford, Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and St Wilfred's at Hexham reflect the important role Northumberland played in the spread of Christianity. Hexham makes a good base from which to explore the whole Northumbrian region. Much of the county is a National Park, with rolling moorlands stretching from the North Sea to the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border. England's most northerly town, Berwick-upon-Tweed, was a regular casualty in the border battles, and changed hands between Scotland and England at least 13 times. Its medieval town walls, reconstructed in Elizabethan times, are among the best-preserved in Europe. Today the town makes a convenient base for touring northern Northumberland and the Borders.
Tyne & Wear: Tyne & Wear spans the mouths of the two major rivers in its name. Newcastle-upon-Tyne (originally no more than a fort on Hadrian's Wall) has city centre shopping, museums, theatres, hotels, restaurants and all the services expected in a major city. There is also a cathedral and a castle. Across the river are Gateshead with the Metro Centre indoor shopping and South Shields, home of popular author Catherine Cookson. Sunderland stands at the mouth of the River Wear and nearby is Washington, famous as the original home of US President George Washington's family. Christian heritage comes to the fore at Tynemouth Priory and Jarrow, home of the Venerable Bede. Transport in the Newcastle area is particularly good owing to its excellent Metro.
County Durham: County Durham, where Prince Bishops ruled for 600 years, surrounds Durham City with its spectacular castle and Norman Cathedral built overlooking a gorge on the River Wear. The surrounding countryside is pleasant and studded with small market towns such as Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle. The Bowes Museum, Raby Castle, High Force Waterfall and Beamish Open Air Museum attract thousands of visitors to the county each year. There are several castles, in varying stages of dilapidation. Bishop Auckland is an ancient market town; nearby is an 800-acre deer park. Also within this county, is the wild region of the North Pennines, Weardale and Teesdale. Darlington, which made its name in the 19th century with the world's first passenger railway to nearby Stockton, has a famous railway museum. There are many other attractive towns and villages throughout County Durham, and many opportunities for walks in the hills and moors.
Cleveland: Cleveland, in the south of the region close to the Yorkshire border, is an industrial county dominated by Middlesbrough. It boasts Australia's discoverer Captain Cook as its most famous son. The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Middlesbrough tells his story. Coastal towns include Redcar, Saltburn and Hartlepool, with its maritime museum, restored ships and marina (under construction). Cleveland's long industrial history dates from the early 19th century (the world's first passenger train steamed into Stockton-on-Tees in 1825). Towns of interest include Marske, Guisborough and Upleatham, with reputedly the smallest church in England.
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