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Northumberland Tours NORTHUMBERLAND TOURS OFFER TAILOR MADE TOURS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. There are plenty of venues to eat from in Northumberland.

Off the grid tours are all designed by yourself and me to make your visit to Northumberland a once in a lifetime tailored experience. Every visit is unique, whether you would like to visit multiple castles in a day, a waterfall and castle, some of the many beautiful villages, wild coast, boat trip to Coquet island, Farne Islands, Alnwick gardens, Sycamore Gap, Vindolanda, Cragside or Holy Island w

here the Vikings landed in 793, we're truly spoilt for beauty and history in Northumberland. On this page you can see a fraction of where you can visit email, phone or messenger and I'll help you plan and maximise your day or days in Northumberland. If you are travelling by train to the Northeast, Morpeth is my station of choice to begin from heading North, Hexham station for Hadrians Wall, I do also collect from Central station in Newcastle. I will collect your party within a 20 mile radius of Morpeth, if further please get in touch as it might be possible. Entry fees to castles, Roman sites and tour guides (where available) are all included for the day excluding boat trips. I would recommend a pack lunch for people wanting to fill their day as much as possible but I'm absolutely flexible, it is your day! I will advise you on recommended clothing and footwear, for your planned day. Holy island and the Puffin boat trip from Amble are tide sensitive and will need to be checked by myself before visit, the Farne Island boat trips sail on all tides. Some walks are more arduous than others, depending on your fitness and capabilities I wouldn't recommend to all. There are no walks over 3 miles (there and back) and they have an Ordnance Survey rating of moderate. I can offer kayaking and coasteering as well for the more adventurous. I am flexible with duration of tour and will advise on where you could possibly see more and get the most from your trip. If you are planning your own tour I can also plan routes to your destinations picking up on some of Northumberlands hidden gems. For further details please don't hesitate to get in touch. [email protected]
07983566705

Experience Northumberland.

11/02/2025

There were up to 80 milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, a stone frontier structure built by the Romans in northern Britannia in the AD 120s. Milecastles were guarded gateways through the Wall and would have been garrisoned by up to 30 men, although it probably varied depending on the location of the milecastle. These fortlets had internal buildings for the men and horses, as seen here in this brilliant reconstruction drawing of Poltross Burn Milecastle (Milecastle 48) in what is now Cumbria, England. For how it looks today, there are photos in the comment section.

Hadrian's Wall was 80 Roman miles long (73 modern miles), with a milecastle built every Roman mile, approximately. In addition to these small forts, there were up to 160 observation towers (turrets), two spaced at a third of a Roman mile intervals in between each milecastle. However, each milecastle probably also had a tower above its north gate, which would mean there was a tower every one third of a Roman mile along the Wall, approximately—up to 240 towers in total. The Wall also had (arguably) 16 large forts, 13 of which were definitely attached to it.

Hadrian's Wall forts from west to east (all forts are located in northern England). Tick for the forts that are/were attached to the Wall:

1. Maia (Bowness-on-Solway)✅️
2. Concavata (Drumburgh)✅️
3. Aballava (Burgh by Sands)✅️
4. Uxelodunum/Petriana (Stanwix)✅️
5. Camboglanna (Castlesteads) Not attached
6. Banna (Birdoswald)✅️
7. Magna (Carvoran) Not attached
8. Aesica (Great Chesters)✅️
9. Vercovicium (Housesteads)✅️
10. Brocolitia (Carrawburgh)✅️
11. Cilurnum (Chesters)✅️
12. Hunnum (Haltonchesters)✅️
13.Vindobala (Rudchester)✅️
14. Condercum (Benwell)✅️
15. Pons Aelius (Newcastle) Might have been attached
16. Segedunum (Wallsend)✅️

Uxelodunum was the largest of these forts and was garrisoned by the Ala Petriana, an elite cavalry regiment.

This list does not include nearby forts such as Luguvalium or Vindolanda, both of which are just south of Hadrian's Wall.
. .

📷A reconstruction drawing of the milecastle at Poltross Burn as it may have looked around AD 170. Because the structure was built on a slope, the internal buildings had to be terraced and stepped to form usable rooms with level floors. The ravine of the Poltross Burn is visible at centre right, with Hadrian’s Wall heading east beyond. © Historic England (illustration by Peter Lorimer)

09/02/2025

This is one my favourite photos I’ve ever taken, Lindisfarne Castle through a rusted old mooring ring.

08/02/2025

This was a chance sighting of a swan in the water leading off the dunes onto Embleton Bay at sunrise.

She was kind enough to stay long enough for me to get a few shots.

This little part of the coastline shaped differently every few days by the tides, always provides something new.

08/02/2025

The Viking World Tour Started Here!
Lindisfarne, 793—where Vikings made their brutal debut in Britain, looting treasures and shocking monks.

08/02/2025

Looking to visit Bamburgh this winter?

Enjoy a Luxurious Coastal Escape for Two People For Just £229! 🌊✨

Treat yourself to a 5-star getaway in the heart of Bamburgh, featuring:

🏨 A stay in our AA-rated luxury rooms
🍽️ Dinner at our award-winning restaurant
🌅 A delicious breakfast to start your day right
😌 Late checkout – because relaxation shouldn’t be rushed

📅 Available Sunday–Thursday | until 3rd April
(Excludes 14th Feb–1st Mar)

📞 Book now: 01668 214 243 | 🔗 www.lord-crewe.co.uk

05/02/2025

Turret 39A on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England—1911 and 2025.

The old photo shows the lower levels of masonry during excavations in 1911. The turret was demolished by the Romans who then filled in the recess into Hadrian's Wall with large blocks, which can be seen in the old photo. This was presumably to support the Wall walkway.

Hadrian's Wall had up to 160 of these turrets/observation towers—two in between each of up to 80 milecastles. This turret in particular was the site of an interesting discovery. During excavations, the skeletons of two individuals—a male and female—were found buried together beneath the north-west corner. They had probably been buried in the Roman era before the demolition of the turret in the late 2nd century AD. It is possible that the two were buried here when the Romans briefly abandoned parts of Hadrian's Wall when the Antonine Wall was built further north in present-day Scotland. When the garrisons returned, this tower was demolished and the two bodies buried beneath the north-west corner were overlain by blocks built into the recess in Hadrian's Wall by the soldiers who seemingly knew nothing about the burial.

Two other notable burials on or extremely close to the Wall:

1. In 2023, during excavations by the Vindolanda Trust at Milecastle 46, just a short distance from Magna Roman Fort in Northumberland, a skeleton was discovered in a supine position in a stone-lined cist burial. The individual had been laid in an east-west direction with the head towards the east and the arms laid out across the lower torso. It was found just outside the east wall of the milecastle, south side of Hadrian's Wall. The skeleton was less than 50% complete and the bones were in poor condition, but the right side was notably better preserved. There was no evidence of grave goods or associated burials. The individual was male and was at least fifty years old when he died. He had probably been wrapped in a shroud.

2. Burial at Milecastle 9. It contained the headless skeleton of a young male. According to Tony Wilmott in the Hadrian's Wall Milecastle 9 (Chapel House), Tyne and Wear: Interim Report on Archaeological Evaluation, September 2000:

"The burial of a male youth was discovered close to the south wall of the milecastle. It was aligned with feet to the east, and was laid out parallel with the milecastle wall. The fact that the head was missing appears to result from later disturbance rather than from deliberate decapitation. Though interpreted as Roman, it seems more likely that this inhumation was of early post-Roman date simply because of the context of the burials
with relation to the milecastle."
. .

Photograph taken from Nick Hodgson's book, Hadrian's Wall. Photographer, F.G Simpson (I think)

04/02/2025

Hurlestone Tower, Alnwick 🏰

Built in 2000 to celebrate the millennium, Hurlestone Tower is a modern day folly situated in the grounds of Lilburn Tower Park.

Its name is derived from the nearby medieval ‘Hurl Stone’ which stands approximately 50m away from the tower. Legend says that the Devil stood on top of The Cheviot and hurled this 4m long stone at St Cuthbert.

A photograph by

31/01/2025

The Lion Tower at Warkworth Castle was built as the main porch to the new bailey residence created by the 4th Earl of Northumberland in about 1480. Its impressive display of heraldic sculpture, including the great lion of the Percys, celebrated his dynastic prowess
📍 Warkworth,Northumberland in England

29/01/2025

After all the recent awful weather we are all enjoying a day of sunshine at Roman Vindolanda.

We are currently open site only at Vindolanda (both the Vindolanda museum and the Roman Army Museum are closed). Our main 2025 visitor season begins on Saturday 15th February and we look forward to once again opening the museum doors and welcoming people back.

28/01/2025

Cotton candy skies, the soothing sound of the sea and the castle reflecting in the sand… feels like a minute since I saw a day begin like this one, over Dunstanburgh Castle and Embleton Bay...

I have my fingers crossed for the weekend 🤞🏼

27/01/2025

For one weekend only, step back in time and celebrate the spirit of the 1940s at Bamburgh Castle!

Our 1940s themed weekend is back for 2025 and promises to be an action packed couple of days!

When: 7 and 8 June 2025

Included in Bamburgh Castle admission!

More info available on our website: bamburghcastle.com/whats-on/

26/01/2025

St. Mary's Lighthouse with just a tiny splash of colour

26/01/2025

🌿 A Festival of Snowdrops at Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum starting on Saturday the 8th of February 2025 and then open daily from 10:30am till 4pm.

Assistance dogs only.

26/01/2025

A simple sunrise.

This was one of the best sunrises I’ve ever seen at on St Aidan’s Beach. And Bamburgh Castle never looked more impressive.

Sometimes the simplest shots are the ones that I like the most and this one is a great example. I love the way the clouds seem to mirror the sweeping curve of the incoming water.

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Merry Christmas 🎄
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Alnwick Gardens

Bamburgh Caste
Bamburgh Caste

Tudor feasting in the Billiard Room, Bamburgh Casle

Holy Island
Holy Island

Overnight stay for the early morning Holy Island loop before the tides lets the masses on.

Etal Castles Tower House
Etal Castles Tower House

The tower house is a fine example of a strong and well-designed residence of the 14th century. Directly above this basement, with its 2.5m-thick walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling (now destroyed), was the hall. On the second floor was the private chamber of the owners, the Manners, and later their constables, the Collingwoods. Both rooms were comfortable and equipped with large fireplaces, traceried windows and latrine chambers built into the walls. The third floor contained a barrack room for the guards.

Etal Castles Tower House
Etal Castles Tower House

The four-storey tower house contained the main living accommodation of the castle. It was built a little before, 1 34l and strengthened before 1368. The floors were linked by a spiral staircase in the now-demolished forebuilding. On the left-hand side you can see how this forebuilding was joined to the tower. On the right are the remains of the staircase. Two holes for drawbars and the slots for a portcullis are visible at the entrance. On the south wall of the tower, wooden stairs once led up to the doorway that opened into the first floor.

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