Top 5 outdoor activities in Northumberland

Bicycling is a very popular pass time in Northumberland not just for the locals but also for the tourists. There are many different locations to schedule bicycle tours around the area. There are short rides all the way up to full day rides that are suitable only for the most athletically inclined. Some of the rides are designed with a family in mind including small children, other rides are specifically designed for the off-roader. There is a cycling trip that will even take you to Hadrian's Wall, a very popular place to visit with a lot of history surrounding it. Because Northumberland is at the border of Scotland and England, many battles have been fought on its soil. As such, there are many places to visit with historical significance.

Keilder Water and Forest Park is home to Europe's largest manmade lake and England's largest forest. This park features miles of trails including trails through the forest for family walks and mountain biking. This park is a haven for wildlife and is home of approximately fifty percent of England's native red squirrel population. There are also Otters and Red Deer and if you lift your eyes to the sky you may catch a glimpse of an Osprey hunting. Waterskiing and sailing enthusiasts will enjoy the lake year round as will trout anglers between the months of March and October. You can also visit Kielder Castle which was the former hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland.

If you're an avid walker and hiker that also enjoys castles, you will love visiting Northumberland. The two most famous castles are the Bamburgh Castle which is a completely remodeled and rebuilt by Victorian entrepreneur Lord Armstrong. Enjoy standing on the dunes on the beach and looking up over the fortress before you. This is a sight you will long remember. If you stand on Embleton Beach and look at the fortress there, you will be resting your eyes on the ruins of the great Dunstanburgh Castle which was built in the 14th Century. Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island and Warkworth Castle are also coastal castles. Inland in the north you will find Alnwick Castle which dominates the landscape of it's town and which also had the distinction of being the castle used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Chillingham Castle is probably rather aptly named because it has the reputation of being haunted. If you have the desire for luxury, you can visit Langley Castle Hotel near Haydon Bridge. If you get tired of castles, then you may want to visit the historic battlefields that pepper the landscape of that historically contested land.

If you enjoy horseback riding, you can ride across the open moorland, across the sands or through Northumberland's rolling hills. There are many riding stables and trails throughout Northumberland.

With Northumberland's rivers and lakes, a fisherman will have plenty to do and a wonderful landscape to do it in. The fish are wonderful and abundant and the landscape is easy on the eyes.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of Northumberland Cottages who provide Cottages to Rent in Northumberland