Hike into England's last wilderness — Northumberland

The least populated of all England’s national parks, Northumberland is a forgotten wilderness that boasts the cleanest rivers, freshest air and darkest skies in the country.

Its picturesque valleys, rolling hills and empty moorland boast a wealth of historical landmarks, most notably Hadrian’s Wall, the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire for nearly 300 years.

Perhaps the greatest asset of this park is the abundant solitude it affords visitors. England’s last true wilderness is the perfect place to stargaze, too. The lack of population helped the area receive dark-sky status by the International Dark Skies Association in 2013.

This Collection introduces you to this beautiful and intriguing part of the country, where antiquity is as abundant as the raw nature around you.

In these routes, you will see some of the most beautiful spots along Hadrian’s Wall, including: the dramatic cliffs of Steel Rigg; the iconic Sycamore Gap, a picture-perfect spot that was featured in the movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves; and Housesteads, the most complete Roman fort in Britain.

You also explore the Cheviot Hills, including a hike to the Cheviot, England’s highest summit outside Cumbria; visit Drake Stone, a supernatural stone with mythical healing qualities; and a beautiful waterfall and plunge pool, Linhope Spout.

As well as all of this, you discover the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe and the largest working forest in England: Kielder Forest Park. Famed for its remoteness, stunning night skies and abundant wildlife, our Tour take you to Bull Crag Peninsula, at the heart of the Forest Park.

Good bases for your explorations are Rothbury or Wooler for the north and Bellingham or Haltwhistle for the south. A traditional market town in the heart of Northumberland. Rothbury, also known as the ‘Capital of Coquetdale’, has plenty of shops, hotels, pubs and restaurants, while Wooler is known as the ‘Gateway to the Cheviots’. Bellingham and Haltwhistle are both charming settlements on the River North Tyne and also boast plenty of amenities.

As Northumberland is so remote, having your own transport makes getting into and around the national park much easier.

However, if you are using public transport, you can travel by train to Newcastle Railway Station, which has direct connections with all major cities. From there, you can catch a train to Haltwhistle or a bus to Rothbury. To get to Wooler and Bellingham, change at Berwick-upon-Tweed and Hexham respectively.

For information about Northumberland National Park, visit: northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk.