The North Pennines are a special part of the UK in so many ways. Remote, secluded and unspoilt, it’s a picturesque area just north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in England which provides the finest scenery, the quaintest of villages and a strong industrial heritage which more than compares with other areas of Great Britain. With all this entailed, it’s no surprise that not only has it been recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but also as Britain’s first UNESCO European and Global Geopark. With its gushing rivers and reservoirs, vast moorlands and spectacular woodland areas, you may think the North Pennines are all about admiring landscapes and not much else…but that’s where you’re totally wrong!
Country cottage holidays in the North Pennines
Outdoor holiday fun in the Pennines
Did you know that the North Pennines are one of the snowiest parts of the UK? And as well as being a Winter Wonderland, it’s the perfect weather in which to learn how to ski or snowboard. Weardale Ski Club on Swinhope Fell above Westgate is just one of the many places where you can enjoy the thrill of a ski lift and a series of exhilarating pisted runs. Looking for other outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the year? Alston Training and Adventure Centre and Eden Outdoor Adventures encapsulate all ranges of sports for the whole family to enjoy such as climbing, nature watching and abseiling. Alternatively, you can hire a canoe or a kayak and sail down part of the four major rivers in the area: the Eden, Tyne, Wear and Tees. The Wear consisting of some of the largest and most challenging waterfalls in the whole of the North Pennines. How about constructing your very own wooden canoe to tackle the rapids? Coatenhill Canoes run classes in the National Trust owned Allen Valleys where its members are trained to construct an open timber canoe from scratch.
Make memories in the Pennines
The North Pennines are also a hotspot for young and old romantics. There are plenty of countryside walks to enjoy in which you can hold hands with your partner and admire the overriding peacefulness of the area. Exploring around the shores of the 1,000-acre Derwent Reservoir is just one of these routes and the ideal location for an intimate picnic and an opportunity to see the local wildlife and seasonal flowers in bloom. Can you believe that 80% of the UK’s black grouse population live on these local moorlands? Why not see if you can grab a selfie with one and create your very own special North Pennine memory?
Take a tour through the rugged and remote Pennines on a motorbike with your loved one or on a bicycle. This area offers the perfect escape. Book a holiday home for two and make a weekend of it.
At night, where better to relax, take the weight off your feet and seal the day with a kiss than stargazing under the moonlit North Pennines. With some of the darkest skies in the whole of England and with city centre pollution miles and miles away, eagle eyed gazers have been able to visibly make out the constellation of Orion and even at times the Milky Way. It’s no wonder then that 16 official Dark Sky Discovery Sites have been designated to the area- that’s more than anywhere else in the UK! As well as Derwent Reservoir, popular sites include Tan Hill Inn on the border of the North Pennines and which at 528 metres above sea level, is famous for being the highest pub in Britain. Will you be able to resist a swift Tan Hill Ewe Juice or Pennine Hair Of The Dog once the sky eventually becomes a little too hazy?
Looking for some precious keepsakes of your time away? The variety of beautiful and traditional villages in the North Pennines can provide you and your family with a million memories. A trip to stone-built Allendale nestled in the Allen Valleys is a must, if only for its delightful market square surrounded by high quality cafes, bars and restaurants. Love your arts and crafts? You’ll be enamoured by Allendale Forge Studios, where as well as seeing the best in local art, you’ll be able to see more famous works from J.M.W Turner and W.H. Auden, who loved visiting and writing about the allure of the North Pennines and in particular Allendale. Did you know that this charming village has also been awarded ‘England’s Village Of The Year’…twice?!
Away from Allendale, the small village of Blanchland, built from the remains of a 12th century abbey is another popular tourist attraction. With a special atmosphere that can only be explained when visited, it has become a firm family favourite due to its range of honey coloured cottages, children’s playgrounds and trout fishing facilities. While on your travels, why not stay the night hidden away from the murky moors in one of 21 luxurious bedrooms located in The Lord Crewe Arms? Not only is it one of the oldest hotels in the country but it was also awarded ‘Inn Of The Year 2018’ by The Good Pub Guide and labelled ‘One of the fifty most romantic hotels in Europe’ by the Sunday Telegraph.
With all these amazing activities merging into just one incredible Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, isn’t it time you started planning your trip to the North Pennines and enjoying that perfect holiday on the wilds that you’ve always dreamed of?
