Northumberland

Area guide

Northumberland is a hubbub of history, culture and natural beauty making the spot a hugely desirable place to call home.

Welcome to our Northumberland area guide where we’ll be laying out key points on the area including information on transport, property and key towns as well as schools and cultural activities.

The Northumberland County is situated at England’s most Northerly point neighbouring the Scottish border. Home to a national park, major cities, a stunning coastline and a number of historical landmarks, it’s easy to say that Northumberland has an incredibly varied landscape. Many look for residence in Northumberland due to the offering of peaceful rural life; a huge part of the county is comprised of natural green spaces, the Cheviot Hills lie in the North-East whereas the North Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is located in the South.

Another key characteristic of Northumberland’s identity is the beachside life, this can be found along the East side of the county which is made up of a huge 30 miles of coast which overlooks the North Sea. Strutt & Parker offers a fantastic range of properties in the area including townhouses, apartments, farms, estates and land. A range of property services are available in this area too including land management, residential sales, valuation and farming.

Things To Do In Northumberland

Northumberland’s rich culture and varied landscape offers a huge amount of opportunity for activity, here are a few of our favourites:

Head to the beach

There is a glorious 30 mile stretch of beaches along the Northumberland coast which looks out on the beautiful North sea. One of the area’s top spots is Coves Haven Beach (or Holy Island) which lies on an isolated patch just off the coast. Elsewhere down the strip lies Bamburgh Castle Beach which is home to golden sandy dunes and Bamburgh Castle, an awe-inspiring spot of history which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Northumberland’s coast is visited by many walkers looking to roam on the beautiful terrain and take in the stunning views.

Experience History

Previously the heart of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, Northumberland’s heritage has a huge influence on the county, many ruins and historical landmarks are scattered throughout the borderlands for this reason. Hadrien’s Wall is the most famous historical landmarks being celebrated as one of the best preserved artefacts from the Roman Empire. There are over 70 castle sites throughout the county, some favourites include Alnwick Castle which is home to a number of family activities and Warkworth Castle which overlooks the beautiful blue waters of the River Coquet.

Why We Love Northumberland

  • Surfing - Northumberland’s sprawling coastline hosts some of the best spots for surfing in the UK! The likes of Bamburgh Castle Beach, Cresswell and Seahouses North are among the favourites.
  • The myth and legend - Due to the rich, ancient history which still lingers throughout the county there a plethora of myth and legend still attached to the land. Uncover this yourself by revisiting the castles, old battle sites such as Heavenfield and entrancing yourself with the dramatic scenery and beauty the area has to offer! An inspiring place to ignite the imagination.
  • Get active! There are an amazing range of activities to get involved which you just wouldn’t come across in the cities, such as gliding, quad-biking, coasteering and climbing.
  • The Cheviot Hills - this beautiful mountainous terrain in the North runs into Southern Scotland and holds many walking spots and activities including archery, kayaking and cycling.

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Properties for sale in Northumberland

Key villages & towns in Northumberland

Schools in the area

Northumberland is populated with a number of fantastic schools ranging from primary to secondary and further education.

There are a huge amount of primary schools scattered throughout this gorgeous County, the likes of Malvin’s Close Primary School, Burnside Primary School and Morpeth Chantry Middle School educates pupils to high standards. Furthermore, The King Edward VI School, Ponteland Community High School and Queen Elizabeth High School are considered to be the best secondary schools in the county achieving the best GCSE results.

For those seeking higher and further education there is Northumberland College which is spread across three areas in the county. The main college is situated along the coast just outside of Morpeth, the other campuses are located at Kirkley Hall and Prudhoe which lies in the middle of Hexham and Newcastle upon Tyne.

For a full comprehensive list of schools in Northumberland, head to the Good Schools Guide.

Transport links

By train

Northumberland is easily accessible by rail with a number of stations throughout the area being connected to some of the most popular routes in the UK. The line which runs from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen stops at Morpeth, Alnmouth and a range of spots across the coast. London can be reached in around 3 hours, whereas Edinburgh is achievable in just over an hour. Newcastle, which neighbours the county, includes a range of national destinations and is easily reached via rail.

By train

The A1 runs all the way from Sheffield, through Northumberland's East side and round to Edinburgh providing drivers with a straightforward and speedy route to the main cities. There are also many scenic drives, such as the A68 which cuts through the heart of the Northumberland National Park, and of course the A1 which is home to the iconic Angel of the North.