Dark-sky status awarded to Northumberland Park area

A patch of Northumberland's night sky has become the largest area of protected sky in Europe. Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park have been granted dark-sky status by The International Dark Skies Association. The status means the night sky is protected and lighting controls are in place to prevent light pollution. In honour of the award the area will be renamed Northumberland Dark Sky Park later on Monday.

Star spotting in Northumberland

Star spotting in Northumberland is a regular occurrence. While Northumberland has many a red-carpet fan, it’s the star-studded galaxies above we’re talking about. According to the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), the vast skies above Kielder Water and Forest Park and Northumberland National Park are the darkest in England. Here, black-velvet skies crackle with billions of stars. The skies in Northumberland are so deep and so dark that Northumberland National Park along with Kielder Water & Forest Park and Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society are bidding to become Europe’s largest Dark Sky Park, awarded by the International Dark Skies Association, the leading international organisation combating light pollution worldwide. The kudos of becoming a Dark Sky Park will help ensure the area is kept free from light pollution and will stimulate more opportunities for people to enjoy the night sky. Billions of shimmering stars making up our Milky Way, a plethora of planets, dazzling meteor showers and the glow of galaxies like Andromeda - the dark skies of Northumberland as seen on Robson Green's Tales from Northumberland are home to star gazing opportunities that are out of this world. Around 85% of the UK population has never seen a truly dark sky. So for an astronomic experience that won’t cost the universe head to Northumberland for unrivalled stargazing. The best time for stargazing is during the autumn and winter months, when the nights draw in. You don’t need an expensive telescope. Just pack up a pair of binoculars, a deckchair, take a hot drink and bite to eat and head for rural Northumberland for a star-studded show. The Northumberland coast has played a starring role in TV programmes like BBC’s Stargazing Live who featured recent sightings of the Northern Lights here. One of Northumberland’s favourite tourism attractions Kielder Observatory at the award-winning Kielder Water & Forest Park has an exciting programme of astronomical events throughout the year. Northumberland National Park has lots of good sites from which to spot the stars. Officially recognised as a Dark Sky Discovery Site, Cawfields Quarry Picnic Site is in the central section of Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site near Haltwhistle. Part of a nationwide network of accessible dark sky discovery sites, look out for stargazing events during the year. A 24-hour webcam is on site too, showing weather conditions to help plan your journey in advance. For more information, go to www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk and www.visitkielder.com.

Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green

Starting on Monday 28th October at 8pm on ITV, Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green will be aired to the nation. Over eight episodes, Robson travels the length and breadth of our magical landscape by land, sea and air to see things he’s never seen before and discover a side of Northumberland that he never knew. Everything from The Farnes to Flodden, Berwick Rangers to Barter Books, dark skies to dialect poetry, shepherdesses to Seahouses all tell Northumberland’s story. How can you be involved? We want as many of you out there as possible to use your social media feeds and get people watching. There’s some great content available via official feeds on Facebook and Twitter ready for you to share. Let’s amplify the message! We have scheduled a tweet to go out on Monday 28th October at 20:00 stating: “Starting now on ITV @talesfromnorth with @Extreme_fishing spending an unforgettable night on Inner Farne. #BestNland #northumberland”. By using one message, one date and shared #tags we’ll make a lot more noise online. You can use our suggested tweet or prepare your own. Share your post at 20:00 and let’s get Northumberland trending!

50 Things To Do Before You're 11 ¾

Join the hunt for crabs, sea urchins, lobster and maybe even a small fish or two! Bring the family to join one of our coastal rangers as we go rock pooling near Lindisfarne Castle on the beautiful Holy Island. More Information: Lindisfarne Castle Office, 01289 389244,

Roman Soldiers and Jane Austen

This summer, step into England’s story as English Heritage brings to life Northumberland’s finest historic visitor attractions. Castle clashes, dressing up as highwaymen and pirates, gruesome Vikings and a day in the life of a Roman Soldier are just a few things families can enjoy in the North East and on Hadrian’s Wall. Or you might prefer to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Jane Austen, with a TV and film costumes display on show at Belsay Hall. Take your little Roman soldier to…. Children’s Roman Soldier School at Birdoswald Roman Fort Sat 20 Jul – Mon 26 Aug Find out how you can join our Centurion for some hands on fun, crafts and dressing up throughout the school holidays. A Soldier’s Life at Housesteads Roman Fort – various dates Find out what it was really like to live at the iconic Fort 2000 years ago. Dramatic presentations showing Roman life will costumed actors will make this event a must-see this summer. Archaeology Detectives at Chesters Roman Fort – various dates Unveil Roman secrets and get stuck into history this weekend. Gladiators at Chesters Roman For – Sat 27 & Sun 28 Jul Come along to a spectacular weekend of Gladiatorial combat and cheer your champion as fully armoured Gladiators take on their opponents in this ancient sport. Calling all Jane Austen Fans…. ‘Costumes from Austen’ at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens until 26 Aug To mark the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, visitors to Belsay can re-live the joy they experienced whilst watching the film by coming face-to-face with the famous white shirt worn by Colin Firth amongst other hugely well-known outfits. Fans of the Regency era will also be doubly-delighted by the huge range of events being held during the summer months. The sights and smells of Belsay’s Gardens are a must-do this summer. Bring your dog, a picnic and enjoy exploring the wonderful Quarry Gardens, Medieval Castle and Jacobean Mansion

Bamburgh Castle tops list of best places in the UK to eat lunch

Bamburgh Castle is the best spot in Britain to have lunch, survey by VisitEngland has found in a campaign to encourage people to eat outside more often.

By Hayley Dixon - Daily Telegraph

6:58PM BST 27 May 2013

Once home to ancient kings, the castle which looks out over the over the Northumbrian coastline is joined in the top ten by beaches in Wales, picturesque villages in the Cotswolds and rocky outcrops in Yorkshire.

The most popular places to enjoy al fresco dining whilst taking in our green and pleasant land were chosen after research found that where people ate their lunch has an impact on their productivity and general happiness.

Whilst eating at your office desk makes people depressed and has an impact on morale, the nation voted that picnicking in rural or coastal areas made them happiest.

Of the top ten UK lunching destinations, seven are close to or have a view over water, including the Elan Valley Reservoir, Mid-Wales and the Coast Road, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. Only one, the Belfast City Hall, was in a built up area.

After months of nominations, short listing and voting, VisitEngland and Visit Wales, in partnership with Kingsmill, announced the Top Ten Lunch Spots in the UK as part of its campaign to encourage more people to eat outdoors.

Puffin Count on Farne Islands

A puffin "census" has started on the Farne Islands in Northumberland, with National Trust rangers surveying how many breeding pairs of the birds live there.


The count, which takes three months, takes place every five years. The last survey indicated numbers had fallen by a third.

Lindisfarne Gospels Return to the North

Written around 700 years ago on Northumberland’s Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the spectacular Lindisfarne Gospels are famous around the world, often described as one of the greatest landmarks of human cultural achievement.


The story of this beautiful illuminated manuscript is fascinating. Created at the medieval monastery on Lindisfarne by the artist scribe Eadfrith, the gospels are dedicated to St Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne. When Vikings raided the island the monks fled with the Gospels and St Cuthbert’s ‘uncorrupted’ corpse, travelling through Northumberland and beyond before reaching Dun Holm (Durham) where Cuthbert’s shrine can still be seen.

From 1st July to 30th September 2013, the Lindisfarne Gospels return to the North East to form the centrepiece of an exciting exhibition which will also include other medieval manuscripts and priceless treasures.
Visitors to the exhibition can then visit the Holy island itself with its romantic priory ruins and stunning castle, visible for many miles along Northumberland’s wild North Sea coast. You can also see St Cuthbert’s Cave, where the saint lived, or one of the fascinating St Cuthbert’s Churches, dotted across the county. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to recreate your own medieval pilgrimage across the sands to Holy Island, or to walk the 100 miles of St Cuthbert’s Way, through beautiful northern countryside.

Throughout the Gospel’s visit Northumberland will be celebrating with a series of events including concerts of original music, exciting Gospels inspired artwork and even a new play by renowned playwrights Trevor Wood and Ed Waugh called ‘A funny thing happened on the way to Durham’. Why not join us to celebrate the legacy of a medieval masterpiece, here in the ‘Cradle of Christianity’