 |
| Morpeth Clock Tower |
Morpeth
is one of the most beautiful areas of Northumberland; a historic
market town which has stood on the same site for nearly 1000
years and which was granted market status by King John in
the 12th Century. Since then, it has prospered and grown into
the administrative centre of Northumberland, and as well as
being well worth a visit in its own right, Morpeth is the
gateway to Northumberland, and is a great base from which
to explore this most scenic of English areas.
Northumberland itself has a long and colourful
history; as an independent kingdom, its boundaries stretched
far beyond the administrative boundaries of the present day,
and Northumberland was the site of many fierce battles, usually
between English and Scots. For this reason, there are many
historic castles in the area around Morpeth, such as Alnwick
and Bamburgh, which are easily accessible by car or public
transport.
In Morpeth itself, attractions include the
13th Century chapel known as “the Chantry,” which
now hosts a craft centre, the tourist information office,
and Morpeth’s famous (and intriguing!) Bagpipe Museum.
However, it’s in the surrounding area that the magic
of a trip to Northumberland becomes apparent. The Castle Morpeth
region contains some of northern England’s most scenic
countryside, including a number of nature reserves, such as
Borough Woods nature reserve, just on the outskirts of Morpeth,
with its delightful circular walk. Indeed, around a quarter
of Northumberland is now protected national parkland. There
are also a large number of self-catering options in the Castle
Morpeth area, including a number of holiday cottages and lodges,
details of some of which are below.
One of Northumberland’s most famous
attractions is Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne. Sitting
just off the coast, this small island contains a monastery
that dates back to the 7th Century, and a castle that can
be seen from the coast. There is a narrow tidal causeway leading
out to the island which can only safely be crossed at certain
times, but it’s certainly worth the trouble; this atmospheric
and historic site is well worth visiting. |
