Holly Lodge

The town is dominated by the magnificent Alnwick Castle, often referred to as "The Windsor of the North" it is the ancestral home of the Duke of Northumberland and is still a habited home. The castle is open to visitors and is today probably most famous as being the location of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies!

Northumberland is a region which boasts more castles and fortified houses than any other English county - a physical testament to its once brutal and bloody history. Today these places provide a fascinating day out for the history lover. Nearby there is Warkworth Castle, sitting on a bend of the River Coquet and so well preserved that the interior has been used as a location for many feature films. Further up the coast are the spectacular cliff-top ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and the magnificent Bamburgh Castle, which not only has it's very own dragon legend - but is also reputed to have been the scene of Lancelot's Joyous Gard in the days of King Arthur, then there is the romantic castle on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne - only accessible at low tide (please check here !) - What better moat than the North Sea!

Many aspects of the history of the region are apparent in often the most unexpected of locations. This gives the area a magical quality with a unique and physical connection to it's past.

There are for instance many examples of the enigmatic prehistoric rock art known as Cup & Ring Marks located on many of the wild hill tops around the area.

Then there are the Romans. From the amazing construction feat that is the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall stretching from East coast to West, to the remote and enigmatic remains of Chew Green high up in the Cheviot Hills. It is a unique opportunity to literally walk in the footsteps of these great invaders.

The diversity of the Northumbrian landscape also means that it is a place where there is literally something for everyone. From quaint villages and market towns such as Alnwick and Rothbury to magnificent hills and moorlands of the Cheviot Hills in the Northumberland National Park and the beautiful stretches of rugged and unspoiled coastline.

Northumberland also has a thriving and vibrant cultural scene with many art galleries, theatres and museums which celebrate the regions past and the individual nature of it's people and places. As well as the bigger galleries such as the Baltic situated in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne which attracts the worlds best contemporary artists there are a myriad of smaller, more regional galleries with a more individual feel. The annual Art Tour of the local Network Artists gives a fantastic opportunity to visit the artists at work often in their own studios and gives a great opportunity to purchase a truly unique gift or memento of your visit.