Northumberland Holiday Guide 2009
Farne Islands & Grace Darling’s Lighthouse
Chillingham Castle, Gail Johnson
Billy Shiel Boat Trips, Seahouses
01665 720308
www.farne-islands.com
Golden Gate Farne Island Boat Trips, Seahouses
01665 721210/721819
www.farneislandsboattrips.co.uk
St Cuthbert Farne Islands Boat trips, Seahouses
01665 720388/720718
www.farneislands.co.uk
Lying three miles off the Northumberland coast, the National Trust
owned Farne islands are a sanctuary for puffins and other sea birds
and home to a large colony of grey seals. There are year round sailings
(weather permitting) and a number of itineraries offered by the different
tour operators. Visitors on licensed tours can land on Inner Farne to visit
the monastic sites, Staple Island to visit the sea bird sanctuary and on
Longstone Island to see the lighthouse from where Grace Darling made
her famous rescue.
Etal Castle
Preston Tower
Etal
Chathill
01890 820332
01665 589227
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Well-preserved example of a Northumberland Pele Tower built in 1392
Romantic ruin with an outstanding Visitor Centre illustrating the Battle
as a refuge from marauding Scots. The site is privately owned, but open
of Flodden (1513). This was the first British battle where artillery was
to the public, and the interior has been restored to its 15
th
century glory.
decisive and for those keeping score, Flodden was an English victory.
WOOLER, FORD & ETAL AND
Fenton Centre
THE TILL VALLEY
West Fenton, nr Wooler
01668 216216
Chillingham Castle
www.fentoncentre.com
Chillingham
Working arable farm with fabulous views of the Till Valley and Cheviot
01668 215359
Hills. The visitor centre has interactive displays on farming and local
www.chillingham-castle.com
wildlife as well as a nature trail, cafe, shop, gallery, play area and fishing.
This 12
th
century border fortress is still a private home but has many
Ford & Etal Estates
areas open to the public. It was voted one of the top 50 castles
Till Valley
in Europe by The Independent newspaper and awarded five stars
01890 820338
by architectural writer Simon Jenkins. There are sumptuous state
www.ford-and-etal.co.uk
apartments, which once hosted kings from Edward I to James I,
The estates of Lord Joicey cover 15,000 acres of the Till Valley and are
gorgeous Italianate gardens, topiary terraces, chapel and tearoom
packed with visitor attractions ranging from a reconstruction of a Stone
whilst the kids will love the dungeon, gruesome waxworks in the torture
Age wooden henge (monumental circle) to a restored steam railway.
chamber and ghost tours.
Each of these attractions has their own separate entry in this guide.
Chillingham Wild Cattle Park
Ford Nursery
Chillingham
Ford Castle
01668 215250
01890 820379
www.chillinghamwildcattle.com
www.fordnursery.co.uk
Chillingham’s vast park was surrounded by a wall almost 800 years ago
Specialist nursery located in the walled garden of Ford Castle and
to protect the wild cattle which are now the last of the breed directly
growing a wide variety (1,500) of hardy ornamental plants, refurbished
descended from the prehistoric ox that once roamed the great forest.
demonstration area and new bamboo grove.
They can be visited on a guided tour in the company of the park’s
warden (please note this is a separate attraction from the castle).
Heatherslaw Cornmill
Heatherslaw
01890 820488
www.ford-and-etal.co.uk
Restored Ford estate watermill producing a variety of traditional stone
ground wholemeal flours, from locally grown wheat, sold in the bakery
and gift shop/tearoom next door. Regular demonstrations of the
machinery and milling process.
Heatherslaw Light Railway
Between Heatherslaw and Etal
01890 820737 (Heatherslaw) or 01890 820777 (Etal)
www.ford-and-etal.co.uk
Restored narrow gauge steam railway running from Heatherslaw to Etal
(50 minutes return journey) along a lovely stretch of track that follows
the River Till - a must for all steam fans.
Lady Waterford Hall
Ford Village
01890 820338
www.ford-and-etal.co.uk
In the 1860’s the estate’s then owner, Lady Waterford, rebuilt Ford village
as a ‘model’ settlement for estate workers and decorated the village
school with her own murals. Widely regarded as masterpieces of pre-
Raphaelite art, her murals of bible stories can still be seen and are one of
Chillingham Wild Cattle Park
the great 19
th
century art works still on display in Northumberland.
www.visitnorthumberland.com 45
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