Northumberland is a rural county located in the far northeast corner of England. With an incredible amount of Roman, Viking and medieval history as well as beautiful coastline and picturesque countryside, this is an underrated area of England with so much to discover.

Northumberland would make for a great weekend away, or as part of a larger road trip.

Here are some of the things you won’t want to miss in Northumberland.

Castles

Thanks to it’s position, Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. Make sure you include a few in your Northumberland itinerary.

My favourite castles in Northumberland are:

• Bamburgh
• Alnwick
• Dunstanburgh

Read more about these castles in my full guide to visiting Northumberland castles here.

For something a little different, why not stay overnight in a medieval castle? Langley Castle Hotel is a 14th century castle, now a luxury 4 star hotel with all the modern conveniences but with the feel of a genuine medieval castle. Read my full guide to Langley Castle Hotel here.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was a 70 mile stone barrier built in 122 AD by the Romans to protect Britain from invasions. It was the frontier of the Roman empire for nearly 300 years. In some places it was 15 feet high, and along the wall turrets and forts were built. After the Romans left the wall fell into ruin and the stone was used to build other local buildings such as Lanercost Priory.

Northumberland has some of the best-preserved parts of Hadrian’s wall that you can visit today.

Housesteads

The largest and best-preserved Roman fort along the wall, Housesteads was at one time home to 800 soldiers. A must-visit site for anyone interested in Roman history. Don’t miss the Roman toilets.

Visiting Housesteads involves an uphill walk through the countryside to get to the museum and fort. Once you’re at the top you’ll have far-reaching views of Hadrian’s Wall and panoramic views of the local countryside. Read about our visit to Housesteads here.

Vindolanda

Pre-dating Hadrian’s Wall, Vindolanda was another Roman fort sitting just south of the wall. Don’t miss the Vindolanda writing tablets, some of the oldest handwritten documents in Britain.

Shield On The Wall

For something a little more low-key, make a stop at Shield On The Wall, a deserted spot right off the road where you can see a turret of Hadrian’s Wall. Although not tall, the wall is quite wide here and you can climb on top of it for a good view of the wall sloping across the rolling hills. Read about our visit to Shield On The Wall here.

The Northumberland Countryside

The Pennine Way

If you’re a long-distance walker you won’t want to miss The Pennine Way, a 268 mile long walking trail considered one of the best in England. The Pennine Way passes through much of Hadrian’s Wall including Housesteads and Shield On The Wall. Read more about the Pennine Way here.

Northumberland National Park

Northumberland is an incredibly pretty county and this is never more apparent than in Northumberland National Park. This area of England is home to remote footpaths, historical gems, clear air, clean rivers and dark skies. Read more about Northumberland National Park here.

Lanercost Priory

The ruins of a medieval monastery with a turbulent history, Lanercost Priory is now a very tranquil spot to visit sitting quietly in the Northumberland countryside. Don’t miss the onsite tea room, voted best in England. Read about my visit to Lanercost Priory here.

Coastal Northumberland

Lindisfarne Priory and Holy Island

Holy Island is a small tidal island off the coast of Northumberland. Accessible only at low tide and cut off during high tide, it’s a unique place to visit but keep an eye on the tides.

Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island is of extreme historical significance being the first place in England the Vikings attacked, leaving terror in their wake and ushering in a new period of English history.

The Priory is a sadly a ruin now. There is an excellent onsite museum which will tell you more about the original priory as well as the Viking invasion. Read more about my visit to Holy Island here.

The Farne Islands

Puffin memorabilia is prevelant in almost every gift shop in coastal Northumberland so it’s no surprise that you can see puffins off the coast here.

One of the most important wildlife centres in the world, the Farne Islands are an easy place to spot puffins and other wildlife. You’ll find many boat tours going out to the Farne Islands from Seahouses, a little fishing village just down the coast from Bamburgh. Note: the puffins are only present in the summer when they choose the Farne Islands as their breeding ground. By September they have gone to warmer climes for the winter so if you’re out of season you may want to give this one a miss – as we found out on our recent Farne Islands tour. To find out exactly how many puffins we saw on our Farne Islands tour click here.

Also visible on The Farne Islands tours are other bird colonies and seals. Some tours allow you to land and walk on the islands. There’s a great listing of tours here.

Getting To Northumberland

Located in the far northeast corner of England and bordered by Scotland, Northumberland is a 5 hour drive from London. Newcastle is the nearest major city, directly to the south of the county.

Many of the larger towns in Northumberland have train stations, but for the best experience you’ll need a car to explore this area.

Where To Stay

Bamburgh is a great base to explore the coastline and castles. For best prices on Bamburgh hotels have a look here.

Further Afield

Keep driving west and you’ll reach the beautiful Lake District. To the south is Yorkshire, another county with a lot to see. You are spoilt for choice in this part of England, and could easily spend a few weeks in the area.

We recently embarked upon a month-long road trip of England including visiting Northumberland, the Lake District and Yorkshire. Read more about our trip including the full trip reports here.

For some good deals on tours and tickets to Northumberland attractions including Housesteads and the Farne Islands I recommend Get Your Guide or Viator.