This new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt's best-selling, comprehensive guide Northumberland including Newcastle, Hadrian's Wall & the Coast remains a reliable source of information for discovering the far northeast of England, an area which is home to Europe's largest area of protected night sky - and England's first Dark Sky Park, a 572-square-mile expanse in Northumberland National Park.Now including some 30 walks along beaches, over hills and through valleys, as well as dedicated chapters on Northumberland National Park, Hadrian's Wall, the coast and Newcastle, among others, Bradt's Northumberland including Newcastle, Hadrian's Wall & the Coast is the ideal companion for a successful visit. This new edition also celebrates Northumberland's many connections with the USA, from presidential connections (George Washington and Bill and Hilary Clinton) to Rapper sword dancing, and the so-called 'Geordie Doughboys', the men who left the northeast of England before World War I and enlisted in the American army.Northumberland is well known for its beaches, castles, wildlife, islands and desolate upland scenery and remains for the most part wonderfully crowd-free. It is the ultimate place in England to get away from it all. It is also home to Hadrian's Wall, 'the most important Roman monument in Britain' (English Heritage). Heritage enthusiasts will find a number of world firsts and unique museums such as Tanfield Railway, where you can marvel at 19th-century steam engines in the oldest engine shed in the world.Bradt's Northumberland encourages visitors to slow down and explore the green lanes, footpaths, rivers and cycle trails that link Northumberland's coast with the heather-topped hills, Roman fortresses and the villages of the interior. Guides to Newcastle and Gateshead are also found in the chapter on the north Tyneside coast. Local knowledge of historic towns, heritage sites, wildlife-watching spots and countryside walks, and words and tips from local heritage experts make this an authoritative guide, perfect for walkers, birdwatchers, cyclists, families, and those interested in Roman archaeology, industrial heritage and medieval castles.
About the Author: Travel writer Gemma Hall grew up in Newcastle and spent many weekends and holidays in Northumberland in the family campervan, visiting relatives in the hills around Rothbury, cycling in Kielder Forest and enjoying long days on the beach at Newton-by-the-Sea. Coming from a family of outdoor enthusiasts, she has explored many of the remote upland and coastal landscapes she describes so intimately in this guide, and hiked many of the region's long-distance trails including Hadrian's Wall Way, St Cuthbert's Way and the Northumberland Coast path. She loves discovering new walking and cycling routes, birdwatching, going for pub lunches and spending time with her young family on Embleton Bay, where she lives for several months of the year.