Heritage Walks Northumberland

The Heritage Walks across Northumberland are less a single destination and more a network of routes that take you through some genuinely compelling landscape and history. We're talking ancient settlements, Roman sites, medieval strongholds - the lot spread across the county rather than concentrated in one spot.

What makes these walks work is that they're designed to be done properly, at your own pace. You're not herded around by signage or forced into a visitor centre experience. Instead, you get to piece together the story yourself as you walk - spotting stone circles, following old drove roads, passing abandoned villages. The routes near Berwick-upon-Tweed are particularly good if you're basing yourself there, as you can tackle sections without committing to epic full-day expeditions.

Historically minded walkers will absolutely get more from these than casual ambler, to be honest. You need a decent map and ideally some research beforehand, otherwise you might miss the significance of what you're looking at. Families with younger kids could find certain routes a bit thin on 'things to do', though older children who enjoy being outside will eat it up.

Access is generally free - these are public rights of way - making it excellent value. Allow anything from two to six hours depending on which walk you choose. The Barn at Beal Restaurant & Campsite, just 1.8 miles away, makes a solid base for exploring the walks without the faff of driving between stops. Best visited outside peak summer when the paths aren't overrun.