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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>History of Northumberland National Park<\/h2>\n
Northumberland National Park was established in 1956 and protects 410\u00a0square miles of upland terrain, including a section of Hadrian\u2019s Wall, Upper Coquetdale and the Cheviot Hills. The park lies within the boundaries of Northumberland, covering about a quarter of the county.<\/p>\n
In December 2013, Northumberland National Park and Kielder were granted Dark Sky Park <\/a>status by the International Dark Sky Association, making it the largest protected Dark Sky Park in Europe.<\/p>\n Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> It took thousands of men eight years to build New York\u2019s Rockerfeller Centre, and nearly 20 years for thousands more to build Shah Jahan\u2019s magnificent love tomb the Taj Mahal. But it took only three legions of Roman soldiers, about 12,000 men, around six years to build Hadrian\u2019s Wall \u2013 and they were wearing skirts and sandals.<\/p>\n A huge stone necklace that weighs heavy across the northern neck of the country, it\u2019s a colossal triumph of Roman engineering. This is an awe-inspiring 73-mile chain of thick brick that slices straight across the realm from Newcastle in the east and cuts through Carlisle to the west.<\/p>\n A section of Hadrian\u2019s Wall splices through the south of Northumberland National Park and can be accessed from the whimsically named Twice Brewed Inn<\/a>.<\/p>\n Low levels of light pollution make the national park a great place to go stargazing. There are several\u00a0Dark Sky Discovery Sites,<\/a>\u00a0some of which have star maps to help you discover key planets and constellations.<\/p>\n Also known as the \u2018Robin Hood\u2019 tree following its appearance in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.\u00a0Sycamore Gap<\/a> is one of the most photographed trees in the UK. It\u2019s easy to see why as it grows in a dramatic dip alongside Hadrian\u2019s Wall, Northumberland Wall in Northumberland. It was also named England\u2019s \u2018Tree of the Year\u2019 in 2016.<\/p>\n The fell sandstones of the Simonside Hills were deposited from a river delta some 330 million years ago. Weathering and erosion have led to their dominant aspect, which makes them recognisable throughout the county.\u00a0Walk through conifer forests and across heather moorland to these distinctive summits with a seven-mile hike. Route and map<\/a>.<\/p>\n Northumberland\u2019s Upper Coquetdale is physically and historically one of the wildest parts of England. Explore this fascinating\u00a0landscape on an\u00a0eight-mile walk over the\u00a0broad grassy ridgelines, steep-sided valleys and ancient droving routes. Map and route<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lying to the north of the Great Whin Sill, and easily visible from Hadrian\u2019s Wall, Greenlee Lough is the largest natural lake in Northumberland.\u00a0The wetlands surrounding the lough\u00a0make up a rare mosaic of habitats,\u00a0home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Route and map<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dipper<\/strong><\/p>\n This bird is typically associated with upland landscapes, such as the Cheviots and Otterburn, but the delightful dipper can also be seen bobbing and scuttling across the tumbling waters of Northumberland\u2019s streams and rivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Red squirrels<\/strong><\/p>\n Red squirrels can be found in some of the park\u2019s broadleaved and conifer woodlands. Their coats range from light orange to almost black and are shed twice a year, turning thicker and darker in winter. They have\u00a0four fingers on each paw, plus a vestigial thumb, and five toes. Their double-jointed ankles allow them to go down a tree headfirst.\u00a0A red squirrel\u2019s bushy tail is used for balance, communication, to slow them down when jumping and as a snuggly blanket. They are smaller and slimmer than\u00a0grey squirrels.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Grouse<\/strong><\/p>\n Both red and black grouse can be found in Northumberland National Park. You\u2019re most likely to see red grouse, observed all year round in heather moorland across the park. Black grouse were once numerous in Northumberland but are now rare. Their courtship ritual, known as a lek, is one of Britain\u2019s great wildlife spectacles.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Roe deer<\/strong><\/p>\n This native British deer is the only deer species to live in Northumberland National Park. It is rusty brown in the summer months,\u00a0turning grey, pale brown or sometimes black in winter. The small antlers with three prongs on males are known as tines.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> This old drovers inn dates back more than 300 years. The bar has a welcoming log fire and real ales, and the restaurant serves home-cooked food. There are six ensuite bedrooms (one on the ground floor), secure off-road parking for cycles and motor bikes and drying facilities. Holly Bush Inn<\/a>\u00a0welcomes pets.<\/p>\n Right on the edge of the national park, Firwood Bed & Breakfast<\/a> is an ideal based for exploring the surrounding countryside, include the beautiful Cheviot Hills. All of the rooms have views of the gardens and are ensuite with free toiletries and tea and coffee-making facilities.<\/p>\n This 86-bed YHA hostel has 26 bedrooms, a self-catering kitchen, classroom and social areas. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and linen. YHA The Sill at Hadrian\u2019s Wall<\/a> is ideally located just a few hundred metres from the Hadrian\u2019s Wall World Heritage site and is close to\u00a0Sycamore Gap and the Roman fort at Vindolanda.<\/p>\n Like the idea of camping but the comfort of a roof over your head?\u00a0Hesleyside Huts<\/a> offer just that \u2013\u00a0luxury camping in the heart of the Northumberland National Park. Set\u00a0within the grounds of historic Hesleyside, these\u00a0traditional shepherd\u2019s huts provide a quiet and cosy escape, fit with\u00a0electricity, kitchen, log-burning stove, toiletries and an en-suite bathroom.<\/p>\n In the heart of Northumberland, not far from Kielder Water, is the The Pheasant Inn<\/a>. This warm, welcoming country inn offers hearty home-cooked food, local beers, wines and\u00a0comfortable accommodation.<\/p>\n![\""Steel\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-811489928-0c6704e.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Steel\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Places to visit<\/h2>\n
Hadrian\u2019s Wall<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Dark skies<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Sycamore Gap<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Best walks in the national park<\/h2>\n
Simonside Hills, Northumberland<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Upper Coquetdale, Northumberland<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Greenlee Lough, Northumberland<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Wildlife highlights<\/h2>\n
![\""Dipper\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2019\/03\/C41X7P-2f22e7f.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Dipper\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>![\""Red\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/10\/MARCH-Red-Squirrel-Iain-Fazackerley-83c2448.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Red\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>![\""Black\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-464453579-05e3ac5.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Black\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>![\""Deer\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-153531199-91997fc.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Roe\\"")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Places to stay<\/h2>\n
Holly Bush Inn<\/h3>\n
Firwood Bed & Breakfast<\/h3>\n
YHA The Sill at Hadrian\u2019s Wall<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Hesleyside Huts<\/h3>\n
Where to eat<\/h2>\n
The Pheasant Inn<\/h3>\n
Twice Brewed Inn<\/h3>\n