derwent view cottage
explore
There’s so much to discover in the North-East of England
so much to discover...
You’ll be spoilt for choice when vising the North East of England. From UNESCO World Heritage sites, stunning coastlines, historic houses, ancient woodland, beautiful gardens, thriving cities and towns, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – we’ve got it all!
The North East of England tourism site has a fabulous video ‘Passionate People, Passionate Places’ which provides an overview of some of the attractions, available to view via youtube.
We’ve also listed a few of the key attractions of things to do in Northumberland and Durham which are within easy reach of our cottage below.
Happy Exploring!
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Nestling in the Derwent Valley with the North Pennines as its backdrop, Derwent View Cottage provides an ideal retreat to appreciate the beautiful countryside. The Cottage is set on a farm which is bordered by the Derwent River (part of the natural boundary between Durham and Northumberland).
Residents can see plenty of wildlife from the cottage including buzzards and the majestic red kites gliding over the farm. Locally, we have kingfisher, heron, duck, deer, pheasant, fox and badger sets. The river is stocked with brown and rainbow trout. We offer a complimentary pass to fishermen staying with us providing they have a current licence.
Within half a mile of the Cottage is the Derwent Reservoir and country park with fishing, sailing, easy footpath walking, picnic areas and panoramic views.
For residents wishing to eat locally, the Manor House Inn is an half mile (uphill) walk, serving a range of hot and cold meals throughout the day.
Within a 15 to 20 miles radius, residents have a choice of local attractions. Travel north west and visit the Tyne Valley with the Roman town of Corbridge and Hexham market town – the gateway to Hadrian’s Wall Country.
The North Pennines is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a Global Geopark. The area is simply beautiful, with swathes of open heather moorland (in late summer / Autumn turning a spectacular purple), striking dales and impressive wildlife – there are a huge range of activities to enjoy. The North Pennines AONB website is a great resource with an interactive map of the area to help you explore and plan activities from walking, cycling, bird watching, fishing, sailing, horse rising, picnicking, nature watching, cultural activities and stargazing. The North Pennines has 16 official Dark Sky Discovery Sites – the closest to the cottage is a mere 3 miles away at Pow Hill, which is a Dark Sky Discovery Site (Milky Way class). All of this on your doorstep!
Useful websites:
- North Pennines AONB and an interactive map on the area
- Explore the North Pennines (including interactive map)
- Dark Sky Discovery Sites
Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Northumberland is a treasure trove of places to explore, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall. It’s one of the most important monuments built by the Romans in Britain and often one of the best known historical attractions in Britain.
There is a National Trail path from Segedenum Roman Fort, Wallsend to the coast of Cumbria, stretching 84 miles but arguably some of the best preserved sites to visit are in Northumberland. There are numerous locations and museums to visit and to help you plan your trip, there are some excellent websites such as Haridan’s Wall website and Visit Northumberland. A few of our favourite places to visit are undoubtedly Housesteads, Vindolanda and of course a walk to Sycamore Gap which includes the infamous landscape (and tree!) featured in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
Hadrian’s Wall is a fabulous place to visit, to stretch your legs in the Northumberland countryside and learn more about our fascinating history.
Useful websites:
HISTORIC DURHAM
The historic city of Durham is located to the South-East of the cottage under 20 miles away.
It boasts the world-famous Durham Cathedral, which together with the adjacent Castle forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral is an example of Romanesque architecture, with the building starting in 1093 and taking roughly 40 years to complete.
Durham county has plethora of places to visit (see the visit Durham website for further details). As well as the Catheral in Durham City, another great attraction to visit in the county is Beamish Living Museum, which is the largest open air museum in England and a great day out.
Durham also includes areas of the North Pennines and Durham Dales, incorporating the spectacular waterfall at High Force.
Useful websites:
NATIONAL TRUST IN THE NORTH EAST
From beautiful gardens, historic houses, enchanting woodland, stunning coastlines and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the North East has it all!
You’ll be spoilt for choice when vising the North East of England as there are so many wonderful National Trust properties and places to visit. The National Trust website has a regional map to help plan you’re your ideal day out. Our personal favourites include Gibside, Wallington Hall, Cragside, Hadrian’s Wall, Lindisfarne Castle, Dunstanburgh Castle (followed by the obligatory kipper for lunch at nearby Craster).
Useful Websites:
THE NORTHUMBERLAND COAST
The dramatic and stunning coastlines of Northumberland include soft sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, seaside towns, coastal castles and nature reserves.
To the north, highlights include The Holy Island of Lindisfarne (birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels), accessible only via a tidal causeway (so checking the tidal crossing times is a must!) The seaside town of Seahouses with regular boat trips to the Farne Island Nature reserves, which in summer months is ideal for spotting puffins, seals and a host of wildlife.
The splendour of Bamburgh Castle, which is open to the public and sits above stretches of golden sands. The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, with a circular walk from Craster where you can dine on the famous Craster Kippers. Low Newton by the Sea, has lovely sandy beaches and a great pub.
CRAGSIDE HOUSE AND GARDENS (ROTHBURY)
Cragside in Rothbury, is a National Trust property and was the former home of Lord and Lady Armstrong, whose Victorian house was the first in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. You can visit the house and tour the inventions and gadgets but it is also set within acres of woodland and gardens. There are miles of meandering footpaths, through some of England’s tallest trees, past lakes, streams and rock gardens.
It’s also possible to drive up the winding, scenic roadway through the estate – particular spectacular when the rhododendrons are in flower.
Useful Website:
THE HOLY ISLAND OF LINDISFARNE (HOLY ISLAND)
Lindisfarne – known locally as Holy Island, is located just off the Northumberland coast, connected to the mainland by a causeway and cut off twice a day by North Sea tides. Before any visit to Lindisfarne, we’d recommend checking the safe crossing times on the Northumberland Council website.
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne has a fascinating history – St Aidan came to Lindisfarne and established a monastery here in 635AD. You can walk around the ruins of the Priory and learn more about its history in the visitor centre. Holy Island is also the birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels. The Island also has a 16th Century castle perched on a rocky outcrop which is under the management of the National Trust.
Website Link:
ALNWICK GARDENS AND CASTLE
Alnwick Gardens is a wonderful day out. It’s possible to visit just the garden or buy a joint ticket to stroll around the castle too (which has been used for many TV and film shoots including Downtown Abbey Christmas Special and in the Harry Potter films!)
The garden is truly a fantastic day out – it’s planted to be enjoyed throughout all seasons and is open all year round with acres of fascinating plants, including the infamous Poison Garden. There are numerous water features, the centrepiece of which is the Grand Cascade, with 38 water fountains providing a spellbinding spectacle. There’s also one of the world’s largest wooden tree houses, a great place to relax and have a bite to eat after meandering through the numerous gardens and trails. The Alnwick Garden really has something for everyone to enjoy. There are often creative performances and tours, hands-on workshops, local food and gifts from Northumberland.
Usefull website:
HEXHAM
The market town of Hexham is about 20 minutes from the cottage. It has a farmer’s market every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month with plenty of local produce to tempt you, from artisan breads, home made pickles and jams, locally grown farm produce including fruits, vegetables as well as locally reared meat.
The town has several historic places of interest, including the Moot Hall and Old Gaol which is now a museum. Hexham Abbey is well worth a visit too. It has a rich history and is a beautiful building set on the edge of the large Sele Park, complete with a newly renovated visitor centre and café.
On the outskirts of Hexham there is also a racecourse with regular events taking place. In addition, Hexham has plenty of cafe’s, eateries and shops to explore and it’s easy to spend several hours enjoying this lovely market town.
Our Guest Reviews
We enjoyed very much a circular walk at Hadrian’s Wall (from the black folder). Simply stunning. The fire was amazing to come back to.
Only once cold enough to light the beautiful wood burner! All the tourist info such a help. Strongly recommend “Il Piccolo” at Corbridge and “The Derwent Arms”, Edmundbyers.
