Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside © Graeme Campbell
Fans of food, culture and sport are in for a summer of great events at NewcastleGateshead in coming months. Things begin in just over a month with Cakebook Britain, set to take place in Saltwell Park July 15. Then there is the VAMOS! festival in June and July, Newcastle Pride, the Bupa Great North 10Km in July, the comedy festival and then The Big EAT! rounding off July. August sees the Bridges Festival and then some fantastic Olympic and Paralympic Games Football at St James’ Park.
Enjoy a focus on Victorian era sporting fashion at Belsay hall this weekend. As part of Belsay Hall’s spectacular month-long Fashion from the Past event, visitors are invited to enjoy the sporting fashion in vogue more than a century ago. There’ll be a focus on all kinds of sporting clothing, with particular focus on women’s sporting pursuits, including swimming, cycling, horse riding, croquet and tennis.
With a £1.2million investment, there will be thrilling things taking place at the Life Science Centre very soon. On 26 May, the centre in Newcaslte will launch North East England’s only 4D motion ride, along with a host of new hands-on exhibits entitled The Curiosity Zone. The 4D motion ride will use wind, water spray, smoke and smells as well as moving seats to bring the 3D action on screen to life.
Kielder Reservoir is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary on May 26 and 27. It was in 1982 that the largest man-made lake in northern Europe was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth. Now, a range of activities are planned for the celebratory weekend. One of the highlights will be an exhibition called What the Reservoir means to Me, a show which tells deeply personal stories and encapsulates the reservoir’s history.
In his latest column, walking guide and writer Patrick Norris describes a recent walk into the remote, isolated and beautiful Ingram Valley, Northumberland. He touches on the ancient history of the place and looks at some of the old trading routes. Patrick also describes life today in the valley and a recent about a writes about the delights of spring in the Northumbrian Uplands.
Kevin O’Hara, Conservation Officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust, joins the team of writers at This is Northumberland to produce a new monthly column called Call of the Wild. In it, Kevin will write about the wonders of nature and wildlife in the North East of England. This month, he explores the beauty and vibrancy of the month of May, writes about birds, woodlands and the North East of England’s very diverse hedgerows.
Britain’s beloved Wallace and Gromit characters will star in a brand new film, made especially for the Queen’s Jubilee. The mini-production will be shown around the UK this summer, including at National Trust property Wallington, Cambo, in Northumberland.
Members of the public are invited to plant wildlife-friendly plants around the Lakeside in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park later this month. The event, which is taking place on Wednesday May 30, between 10.30am and 12.30am is part of the The Lakeside Explorer Project in partnership with Exhibition and Brandling Parks Community Trust.
Kielder Reservoir is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary on May 26 and 27. It was in 1982 that the largest man-made lake in northern Europe was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth. Now, a range of activities are planned for the celebratory weekend. One of the highlights will be an exhibition called What the Reservoir means to Me, a show which tells deeply personal stories and encapsulates the reservoir’s history.
The North Pennines AONB is set to hold some Rocky Weekends in the coming weeks. They will involved talks, walks, good food and good companionship.
Enjoy a focus on Victorian era sporting fashion at Belsay hall this weekend. As part of Belsay Hall’s spectacular month-long Fashion from the Past event, visitors are invited to enjoy the sporting fashion in vogue more than a century ago. There’ll be a focus on all kinds of sporting clothing, with particular focus on women’s sporting pursuits, including swimming, cycling, horse riding, croquet and tennis.
English Heritage’s Belsay Estate still has places left at its first-ever sleep-over. The event, taking place on Saturday evening, is part of Museums at Night and will give participants a chance to stay in the fascinating building and experience an overnight say, stories and food at this Northumberland property. The experience will also include a tour of the old castle and some ghostly story telling.
Hauxley Nature reserve – destroyed by fire two years ago – has been bowled over by donations it has received. More than £38,000 has been collected so far.
Fans of food, culture and sport are in for a summer of great events at NewcastleGateshead in coming months. Things begin in just over a month with Cakebook Britain, set to take place in Saltwell Park July 15. Then there is the VAMOS! festival in June and July, Newcastle Pride, the Bupa Great North 10Km in July, the comedy festival and then The Big EAT! rounding off July. August sees the Bridges Festival and then some fantastic Olympic and Paralympic Games Football at St James’ Park.
With a £1.2million investment, there will be thrilling things taking place at the Life Science Centre very soon. On 26 May, the centre in Newcaslte will launch North East England’s only 4D motion ride, along with a host of new hands-on exhibits entitled The Curiosity Zone. The 4D motion ride will use wind, water spray, smoke and smells as well as moving seats to bring the 3D action on screen to life.
People in the Tyneside region can take advantage of a special ticket promotion this coming Bank Holiday weekend. Tyne and Wear Metro and Seven Stories have teamed up to offer visitors who use the metro £2 off the admission fee to the national home of children’s books in Britain.
The Scottish Borders and Edinburgh may be the stage for the Tour de France as part of an attempt to bring the cycling event to the UK. The idea would involve the Scottish capital and surrounding area hosting a short time-trial in 2017 called the Tour prologue.
Items once used by Bonnie Prince Charlie and King James VI will tour this week in an exhibition called Scott on the Road. The exhibition opens at the Borders Textile Towerhouse in Hawick on Tuesday, and in coming weeks will move to Innerleithen and Selkirk.
Scotland is to have a brand new National Trail and it will have its starting point in the Scottish Borders near Kirk Yetholm. The trail is being backed by Cameron McNeish, writer and TV presenter and will be sponsored by Gore Tex.
A question and answer interview with Sue Hodnett, site manager at Housesteads. She talks about her love of Hadrian’s Wall country, and reveals her favourite things in Nortumberland. Her favourite market town is Hexham.
In our latest In the Know interview we talk to Anna King, a landscape artist who lives in Peebleshire, the Scottish Borders. She highlights some of her favourite places in the Borders and says that her favourite thing about the Borders is the space that the place has to offer.
A Q&A interview with Kevin O’Hara of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, who says he loves the wildness, space and tranquillity of Northumberland, as well as expansive beaches, local food and history of this place.
In his latest detailed and colourful feature, writer and photographer Geoff Holland shares with us one of his favourite places in The Cheviots – the Hanging Stone on Cairn Hill in North Northumberland. The Hanging Stone is a magnificent collection of rocks that look like a waterfall made of stone. An avid walker, Geoff describes the route to Cairn Hill and the first time he saw the rocks.
Walker and writer Geoff Holland writes about a recent hike in the Cheviot hills that straddle the border between the North of England and Scotland.
A feature by walker, photographer and writer Geoff Holland about walking at Kielder around Kielder Water. This article covers the impressive sights one sees around Kielder Water, including the many art installations.
In his latest column, walking guide and writer Patrick Norris describes a recent walk into the remote, isolated and beautiful Ingram Valley, Northumberland. He touches on the ancient history of the place and looks at some of the old trading routes. Patrick also describes life today in the valley and a recent about a writes about the delights of spring in the Northumbrian Uplands.
In his latest column walking guide Patrick Norris takes a look at the huge rise in the popularity of health walks and health walking, and explains how walking is good for the body and mind.
Writer and walking guide Patrick Norris explores the origins of walking in the UK and looks at how it has become such an enormously successful pastime. He recounts the mass trespass on Kinder Scout, Derbyshire, in 1932. This is the first article in Patrick’s new column called A Walkers’s Guide.
A new website called www.dogwalks.co.uk gives a comprehensive listing of walks you can take you dog on in the North East of England. It lets you choose by region or walk, and all walks include maps and details. focuses on North East walks.
The Farne Islands have been shortlisted in a BBC Countryfile Magazine awards and you can make your vote for the islands in the Britain’s favourite nature reserve category before June 1.
Northumberland and the East Coast of England are the driest part of the U.K., thanks the the protection of the Pennines. If you are tired of our very wet spring, enjoy a break from the rain in the North East of England.
Northumbrian Byways and Geoff Holland have teamed up to give readers a chance to win one of Geoff’s walking books. The books available to win all focus on the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland. Find out more about this special place and how you can win on of these excellent books.
A milder than average winter and a wet April have produced the perfect conditions for rhodendron blooms in Nortumberland, and one of the best places to see the stunning flowers is at Cragside, near Rothbury.
The wildlife trusts movement – founded 100 years go in May 1912 – will celebrate its centenary this year. A special celebratory film is set to be screened on Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s website on May 16 to mark the occasion. The milestone birthday will also be celebrated by Geoffrey Willey of Northumberland will turn 101 in August and is nine months older than the trust movement itself.
An exciting and new centre is set to be opened at Once Brewed in Northumberland National Park. Called The Sill, it will be a centre of national significance and will focus on learning and discovery about the environment and the landscape. The Sill will vastly enhance the visitor’s experience of the Northumberland National Park. It is a joint project between Northumberland National Park Authority and YHA, and both have received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the project.
Members of the public are welcome to join Northumberland Wildlife Trust as it marks the national Centenary celebrations of the Wildlife Trusts movement. The trust invites people to join it for its Centenary History Walk on Saturday May 26. This is a guided walk which begins and ends at Weetslade Country Park on the northern edge of Newcastle.
Wildlife lovers and osprey fans in particular are encouraged to take part in this years osprey watch at Kielder. From July 7 – August 11 a team of volunteers from the wildlife charity will be spending each weekend and Tuesday and Wednesday staffing an information point. You can find out more at an information session at Kielder on May 17.
Fans of the history of fashion and those fascinated with the story of the Titanic are in for a treat this weekend when English Heritage property Belsay shows some of the clothes worn by Edwardian ladies on board the Titanic. Available for viewing will be the creations brought on board by its most prestigious passengers and details about the life and legacy of one of its most famous survivors, fashion designer, Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon. See costumes worn by first-class ladies and the more utilitarian clothes worn by third-class passengers.
Landscape photographers have just two days left to enter the Images of Rural Europe photography contest, which is being supported by Northumberland Uplands Local Action Group and Northumberland National Park. Professional, amateur and school aged photographers are encouraged to enter. The winner will have their entry isplayed at a major exhibition in the Berlaymont building, in Brussels from 22 June to 10 July, 2012.
The hay meadows in the North Pennies will be an area of focus next week when a group of visitors from the Romanian region of Transylvania arrive to explore this special habitat. The people will meet those who take care of the hay meadows and discover more about the work done by AONB Partnership’s Hay Time project.
Fashion flashback – Tudor fineries and 40s make-do at Belsay
The catwalk of the past is on show at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland, with a month-long Fashion from the Past event, running from May 5 – 27. Read more
Perfect character cottage with breathtaking views
This month’s Cottage of the Month is charming Hilltop Cottage, Thorpton, near Rothbury, Northumberland. This lovely old cottage has all you need for an exceptionally comfortable holiday and is perfect for a couple or small family. It offers unforgettable views across the hills of Northumberland and has a lovely garden. Well-behaved pets are welcome, too!
Stunning holiday cottage in Northumberland
This 15th Century Bastle House has been sympathetically renovated to provide a stunning place for couples to stay. Bastles were two-storey stone farmhouses where families would hide behind the metre thick walls during times of trouble. Livestock were housed downstairs. The property is one of the very few remaining complete Bastle Houses in Northumberland. [...]
WIN a family activity break in Northumberland!
www.thisisnorthumberland.com has teamed up with Tomlinsons Cafe and Bunkhouse in Rothbury to give one lucky family of four the chance to win an exciting bunkhouse holiday in Rothbury, Northumberland, right on the edge of spectacular Northumberland National Park.
WIN a break at Newcastle’s newest hotel
www.thisisnorthumberland.com has teamed up with Sleeperz Newcastle, the city’s first and only design-led premium budget hotel to offer a lucky reader a chance to win a two-night stay for two with breakfast.
Win a free online ad campaign at www.thisisnorthumberland.com. Open to businesses and organisations wanting to reach visitors to the North of England and the Scottish Borders.
Clennel Street © Keith Robeson/NNP Northumberland and the Borders by Foot Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are a walkers’ ... Read More »
