Northumberland National Park

Northumberland National Park is a protected upland area in northern England, designated as a national park in 1956 to conserve its moorland, hills and archaeological landscape. It covers remote uplands, rolling hills and river valleys and is the least densely populated English national park.

The park contains the Cheviot Hills and significant stretches of the Roman frontier known as Hadrian’s Wall; those features combine natural scenery with important archaeological sites. It is also recognised for some of England’s darkest skies, drawing amateur astronomers and night photographers.

The landscape includes open heather moor, peatland and livestock farmland, with military training areas in parts of the uplands that impose temporary public access restrictions. The park is north of Newcastle upon Tyne and forms part of England’s northern rural hinterland.

• Designation date: Designated a national park in 1956, it protects large areas of upland moor, river valleys and traditional farmland in northern England.
• Dark skies: Known for very dark night skies that make it a popular destination for stargazing and night-sky photography.

What to See #

• Cheviot Hills: A range of upland moors and rolling summits in the Cheviot Hills; the highest point in the park is The Cheviot at about 815 metres.
• Hadrian's Wall: A stretch of the Roman frontier runs through the park, with surviving wallworks and archaeological sites forming part of the Hadrian's Wall cultural landscape.
• Otterburn Ranges: A large Ministry of Defence training area occupies upland parts of the park and imposes access restrictions at times for public safety.