8 fascinating facts about Northumberland

Brimming with history and culture, you’ll never be short of things to see and do in Northumberland. But do you know all there is to know about our beautiful county? Read on to discover some little-known facts about Northumberland and just some of the reasons we’re so proud to call it our own…

1. It has more castles than any other county in the world.
Northumberland is home to the most castles in the whole of England and, indeed, the world with over 70 castle sites still standing today. A legacy of its rich and fascinating history, including the infamous Border wars, it’s just one of the reasons our county is one of the best places to visit in the country.

2. It’s the birthplace of Earl Grey tea.
Earl Grey tea is today enjoyed all over the world, but few know it was invented by a Chinese Mandarin for Northumberland’s Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s and author of the Reform Bill of 1832.

3. It’s home to Hogwarts.
Alnwick Castle was used in the first two Harry Potter films as a double for Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Today, Harry Potter fans can today take part in a range of Harry Potter themed events at the castle and even take up broomstick lessons.

4. And was the inspiration behind Game of Thrones.
Hadrian’s Wall was a big inspiration for Game of Thrones writer George R. R. Martin, as avid fans of the hit series will know. Much like our very own Hadrian’s Wall, The Wall in his best-selling series was is also in the north of its country and stretches from coast to coast.

5. It’s the most sparsely populated National Park in the country.
Northumberland is the most remote and sparsely populated National Park in Britain, with a population of only around 2,000 people. This equates to just 0.02 persons per hectare – at least 10 times less dense than any other National Park.

6. Its unique breed of cattle is rarer than a Siberian tiger or a giant panda.
Found only in Northumberland today, the beautiful Chillingham Wild Cattle are true survivors, having remained remarkably genetically isolated for hundreds of years. With only around 90 remaining, Chillingham Wild Cattle are thought to be rarer than a Siberian tiger or giant panda. You can see them up close as they roam through the 330 acres of Chillingham Park, which also offers spectacular views of the Cheviot Hills.

7. It has the only Roman milestone in Britain.
Located only 10 minutes from our Estate is Vindolanda, the only Roman milestone in Britain that still stands in its original position. As one of Europe’s most important Roman archaeological sites, Vindolanda is one of Northumberland’s most famous and not-to-be-missed tourist attractions for those looking to explore its ancient buried forts and on-site museum that tells the story of Roman history.

8. And even owns the world’s largest human landform sculpture.
Northumberlandia is a unique piece of public art near Cramlington. The park’s centrepiece is ‘The Lady of the North’, a stunning human landform sculpture of a reclining lady. Scaling 100 feet in height with 4 miles of footpaths, she’s the largest human landform sculpture in the entire world.

Nestled in the heart of Northumberland, Walwick Hall is perfectly located to discover the very best of our beautiful region, with the wonders of Northumberland National Park and Hadrian’s Wall just a stone’s throw away. Once you’ve had enough exploring, we guarantee nothing will feel better than returning to our premium Spa, deluxe bedrooms and indulgent seasonal dining. Book your visit here.