Northumberland Holiday Guide 2009
Simonside Hills, near Rothbury, Mario Czekirda
The artist James Mallord William Turner had the curious habit in this wild and windswept range but her sisters of Windy Gyle,
of tipping his hat to the north. If anyone cared to ask why, he Bloodybush Edge, Cushat Law, Comb Fell and Hedgehope
would explain that the skies of Northumberland had made him
Hill also rise to over 2,000 feet. There is a stiff 23 mile long trail
famous so he never lost an opportunity to give his thanks.
that climbs each peak starting at the head of the Harthope
Burn near Wooler. Sir Walter Scott holidayed here, describing
Turner first travelled to Northumberland in 1797 and this most
the Cheviots as “the wildest and most Romantic situations in
Romantic of English counties provided him with inspiration
the land,” and on a clear day the view extends fifty miles or
throughout his life. He was particularly fond of Northumberland’s
more in every direction.
many Medieval castles and sketched Dunstanburgh,
Warkworth, Morpeth, Prudhoe and Alnwick castles many
Carter Bar: the A68 road to Edinburgh follows the Roman Dere
times. His favourite was Norham Castle, which he painted
Street and there is spectacular scenery north of Corbridge
seven times between 1798 and 1845.
as the road travels through remote Redesdale, but the finest
views are at the ancient drover’s pass called Carter Bar. Here
Turner’s true genius was revealed in his paintings of Norham
the road reaches a height of 1,200 feet and there is a roadside
which were the first to feature his trademark skies full of swirling
viewing point offering a panorama of The Borders’ highest hills.
colour. By 1845, when Turner completed his last picture of
Carter Bar marks the modern Anglo-Scottish border - a fact
Norham (subtitled Sunrise), the castle had become lost in a
celebrated by the occasional presence of a piper!
maelstrom of Northumberland mist.
Otterburn Ranges: since 1911 a vast area of Northumberland
In the 150 years since Turner died, not much has changed
east of the A68 has been set aside for military manoeuvres.
in the landscapes of rural Northumberland. Almost anywhere
For many years these ‘Otterburn Ranges’ were closed to all
on the county’s roads or footpaths, you can look up and be
except soldiers but recently a public road has opened across
rewarded with the similar cloudscapes and unique quality of
this unspoilt sweep of beautiful upland scenery. Unless the red
light that inspired England’s most influential landscape artist...
flags are flying, indicating live firing is taking place, you can join
the road near Byrness or Alwinton and travel by foot, bicycle,
Cheviot Hills – at 2,674 ft (583m) The Cheviot is the highest hill
horse or car. Be sure to stop at the Outer Golden Pot parking
12 www.visitnorthumberland.com
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