Female Goshawk

Hundreds of goshawk feathers are providing the key to unlocking the private lives of one of the UK’s rarest and most persecuted birds.

With no more than around 400 breeding pairs* in the UK and an instinct to steer clear of people it takes an expert to track the creature down, let alone study its habits.

Undaunted, the Forestry Commission is launching a series of stunning nature events for the ‘Wild about Kielder’ season starting with a spectacular trek to see the amazing goshawk skydance, when frisky males take to the wing to impress potential partners.

Leading the way will be Martin Davison, Forestry Commission ornithologist, who spied six birds during last year’s events.

“Goshawks made a comeback in Kielder Water & Forest Park in the 1960s and now together with the Forest of Dean, it is probably the speedy predator’s major English stronghold.”

The bird is now legally protected, but monitoring its fortunes can be tough compared with owls, peregrines and even ospreys and that’s where a huge collection of goshawk wing and tail feathers comes in.

“I’ve got hundreds of feathers collected from around Kielder goshawk nests, some up to 15 inches long.  As the female sits on eggs she moults so it’s just a question of walking around the base of the tree and picking them up.  The pattern on each feather is unique to the bird – a bit like a fingerprint.  By comparing feathers from previous years it’s possible to tell whether it is the same bird in the nest.  Using this technique the oldest bird we have on record at Kielder is 16 years old, which is pretty good going.  Goshawks are fairly faithful to nests and tend to use the same location every year.”

Martin Davison

Martin and other trained tree climbers will scale trees to ring young chicks in the summer, after trekking countless miles in the forest looking for nests.  However, rings are almost impossible to see on a living bird and the recovery rate for dead goshawks is extremely low so rings don’t provide as much useful information as with other birds.

“That’s why the feather technique is so useful,” adds Martin. “Nationally, persecution levels seem to be on the increase, so Kielder’s population which is both stable and monitored is incredibly important.”

Terrible weather during the crucial egg hatching period last year meant that slightly fewer chicks successfully fledged.

The three hour goshawk walks set out from Kielder Castle and take place at 9am on 10 and 24 March.

Other Wild at Kielder events include:

• 12/21 April – deer safaris (7.30pm and 6am)
• 5 May – badger watch (8.30pm)
• 6 May – dawn chorus (5am)
• 18 May – owl night (7pm)
• 9 June – bat night  (9.30pm)

Booking is essential for all these events on 01434 220242.  The cost is £6 adults, £5 concessions and £16 for a family of four.  More information at www.visitkielder.com

Find out more about the Goshawk Walk.

Print this entry

South and East Elevation Phase - click image to enlarge

Ambitious plans for a £10 million development at the leading outdoor activity centre for disabled and able- bodied people in the North East have been submitted for planning permission.

The proposals, being considered by Northumberland County Council, are for extensive additions and alterations to the Calvert Trust centre in Kielder Water & Forest Park, Northumberland.

They include a visitor hub with state-of-the-art climbing wall, caving system, bouldering wall, a café and offices, a sports hall, a woodchip biomass district heating system and landscaping, outdoor activities, including a high ropes walk way and the necessary infrastructure works.

It also includes plans for five new fully accessible self-catering cabins to add to the 10 cabins already available on the site which is close to Kielder Water, northern Europe’s largest man-made reservoir.

Once planning approval in principle has been given, the Trust will forge ahead to raise the necessary funding to undertake the development in staged phases.

Peter Cockerill, Calvert Trust Chief Executive, said: “Calvert Trust at Kielder has been providing challenging outdoor activities for people of all abilities for more than 25 years and these exciting new plans will lay the foundations for growth over the next 25 years.”

The development will benefit people with a wide range and degree of disability with some of the facilities open to Day visitors. It will also attract families with a disabled parent or child along with their able-bodied friends; charitable organisations working with people with disabilities; adults with care needs seeking a break on their own; special needs schools and mainstream schools, many of whom have disabled pupils.

Peter Cockerill added: “This development is another step on the road to fully realising our vision – ‘disability no limits’.

“Calvert Trust Kielder gives people with disabilities the chance to realise their full potential and to break down the barriers that prevent this.

“The project will enable thousands more to benefit from our work and greatly enhance the quality of the unique service we offer.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many friends and benefactors from the North East and throughout the country, for their help and support in the past and to ask for their further support to make this project a reality.”

These plans form part of the overall development of Kielder Water & Forest Park.

“Elisabeth Rowark, director of Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust said: “The plans look amazing – a new visitor hub will be a welcome addition to the existing facilities across Kielder Water & Forest Park. Over the past few years, new additions such as mountain bike trails and the Lakeside Way have contributed to making the Park a world class visitor destination. As a key member of the Development Trust, Calvert Trust Kielder’s plans will be a key component of that growing offer and I am delighted to see more and more businesses in the area creating sustainable year-round attractions.”

Find out more about Kielder Water and Forest Park at www.visitkielder.com.

Print this entry

Pleiades from Kielder

Kielder Water & Forest Park has been named as prime site to discover the stars by a pioneering new initiative.

Dark Sky Discovery is a UK-wide partnership of astronomy and environmental organisations wanting to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy the night sky by highlighting top places to safely view the heavens.

Kielder Observatory is named as a “Milky “Way” location – the highest ranking category where people can observe the shimmering ribbon of stars that makes up one arm of our galaxy from horizon-to-horizon.

Gary Fildes, Director of the Kielder Observatory, said:

“The observatory’s profile has gone through the roof and the latest Dark Sky Discovery campaign will just add to the facility’s popularity.  Well over half of the British public can’t see the Milky Way from their home, which is astonishing, and the result growing light pollution. Some have never seen this wonder of nature at all, especially youngsters. That’s what makes the dark sky oasis we have at Kielder so important.”

Milkway from Kielder

Kielder Observatory is running a record 300 events this year to cope with demand and has attracted around 25,000 visitors since opening in 2008. The Kielder Forest Star Camp – named as one of the world’s top ten astronomical gatherings by the influential Sky at Night Magazine – is also expanding, attracting nearly 300 observers from across the UK annually.

Find out more about Kielder Observatory on the official Northumberland visitor website.

Print this entry

Seaton Delaval Hall

The National Trust has been awarded a grant of £24,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project which aims to bring the heritage of Seaton Delaval Hall to life.

Entitled the Delaval Lives project, the Trust team will work with the community to investigate the lives of people who lived and worked at the Hall and learn to share their stories in a new and fun way.

Commenting on the award, Helen Nisbet Project Manager for the National Trust said:

“This funding is a brilliant start to 2012 and it means that we can help our visitors and local communities understand and learn about the history of the Hall and about how the National Trust are committed to bringing their properties to life. We are really excited about the Delaval Lives project and look forward to taking people on this journey with us!”

During the next few months the Trust will be inviting the local community to participate in costume making workshops led by North East based designer Paul Shriek. The workshops will include researching, designing and creating costumes and participants will learn the art of costume making and sewing. The final pieces will be showcased in a spectacular Georgian catwalk show early in the summer and afterwards used to create a dressing up box for visitors.

The HLF funding will also enable volunteers at the hall to learn the art of story telling from a professional story teller, reflecting on theatre, industry, tragedy and the comedy that the Hall and its inhabitants have witnessed over the centuries. In addition, the Hall will make education packs for local schools and offer other educational activities looking at 18^th century family life, the lives of servants, estate workers local industry.

Helen continued:

“The overall aim is to bring the place to life in a unique way in the hope to widen our appeal and offer and to make a visit to the Hall special and fun!”

The Delaval Lives project is a partnership with the Northumberland Archives at Woodhorn Museum who have loaned the Delaval section of their Working Lives exhibition to Seaton Delaval Hall. The exhibition draws on archival information and stories about the Hall and its characters during the late 1700’s during the time of the cutting of Seaton Sluice. The exhibition opens this weekend at Seaton Delaval Hall.

Explaining the importance of the HLF support, the head of HLF in the North East Ivor Crowther said:

“At HLF we always look to fund projects that are interesting and different, and that will reach out to new audiences and providing innovative and exciting learning opportunities for everybody to enjoy. We were therefore delighted to be able to support the Delaval Lives project which will give communities across the North East a chance to show their passion and creativity, as well as creating fun new opportunities for visitors to explore the history of Delaval Hall.”

Find out more about Seaton Delaval Hall on the official Northumberland visitor website.

Print this entry

Over recent years the popularity of Challenge Walks has grown massively. These are organised walks (which some people run) where participants make their way through the countryside over varied distances.

Many of the walks start from around 13 miles in length with a number stretching up to marathon distance, but remember these are not flat walks, often they can go over mountain tops. During the event participants go through ‘checkpoints’ to collect evidence (usually having a card punched) that they have completed the course.

Shepherds Walks, who are based in the heart of Northumberland, have been running these events for a number of years now. Jon Monks the owner of Shepherds Walks said ‘It is amazing how many people are coming along to these events, with many of the events having over 250 participants. The atmosphere during these events is second to none; with all our finishers getting limited edition T-shirts after finishing the challenge walk’.

In 2012 Shepherds Walks have four challenge walks including a 13 mile Cragside Challenge Walk which starts and finishes at the National Trust property near to Rothbury.  A greater challenge is an epic 26.2 mile linear walk down the Northumberland Coast. This linear walk takes in the most famous section of the Northumberland Coastal Path and with transport being provided to get participants to the starting point it is a massive event in its own right. These walks are complemented by an 18 mile St Cuthbert’s Way Challenge which starts in Scotland with walkers making their way back crossing over the Border Ridge into England and then the year is rounded off in September with the 25.2 mile Kielder Challenge Walk, which passes around Kielder Reservoir.

Each of the challenge walks also enables participants, if they so wish, to raise money for either their own or the official charity of each of the events. In 2011 over £22,000.00 was raised for the official charities, plus many more pounds by those people who raised money for charities close to their heart.

People come from all over the country and last year the Challenge Walks brought people from overseas especially for these events. Many people come into the area and make a weekend of it, so they have got plenty of time to savour the other qualities of the region.

With the start of the year upon us and many people looking for a new challenge for 2012 it is certainly worth looking at.

You can find out more at www.shepherdswalks.co.uk/events or call Shepherds Walks on 01830 540453 and they will post you more information.

Print this entry

Snowdrops at Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens

Are you planning to leap into action and pop the big question to your loved one this Leap Year? Tradition holds that this February, ‘normal order’ is reversed with women able to propose to their Prince Charming, and where better than at one of English Heritage’s idyllic properties in the North East?

English Heritage is playing cupid as it encourages people to start their love affair with its North East properties open this Valentine’s Day, including beautiful Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Lindisfarne Priory and Warkworth Castle.

Dotted around each site you will find an assortment of tranquil hideaways – in amongst a carpet of snowdrops at Belsay, serene Priory ruins at Lindisfarne and mystery and intrigue of Warkworth Castle, discover the perfect setting to pop the question to your loved one this Leap Year.

During February half-term (11-19 Feb), English Heritage also has something for the little cupids too with Historical Valentine Trails everyday throughout the school holiday. Fascinating facts and love stories from the past at Belsay, Lindisfarne and Warkworth will be placed around the three sites, with children able to join in the fun and win a tasty treat!

Caroline Sinclair, from English Heritage, said: “The sentimental combination of the Leap Year, National Marriage Week and Valentine’s Day make February officially the most romantic month of the year.  Thanks to this whimsical fifth century tradition, many women may even be proposing to their man this February. Forget red roses and candlelight, snowdrops, spring bulbs and a proposal in the open air are much more original. Who could resist a proposal or romantic day out in stunning surroundings at one of English Heritage’s romantic hotspots?”

Visitors are invited to find their special place with English Heritage. Picturesque gardens and secret hideaways make up enchanting Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens, near Morpeth, and it will be rolling out a white carpet of snowdrops to help love blossom this half term.

Meanwhile, a trip to magical coastal property, Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island – widely considered to be one of the most romantic places in Britain – is the ideal way to escape from it all. In the grounds, visitors can see with the traditional ‘petting stone’ that all new brides married in the church must leap over to bring fertility and happiness to their marriage.

And at Warkworth Castle you can discover the tragic historical love story of Betram de Bothal and Isobel Widdrington. Betram’s ghost is still said to reside in the castle’s hermitage, but with its charming views and quaint location, who could blame it?

Regularly topping polls for the North East’s most romantic locations, English Heritage’s other coastal properties in the region, awe-inspiring Dunstanburgh Castle and Tynemouth Priory and Castle, offer breathtaking views of the dramatic coastline and spectacular scenery – perfect for a romantic February walk with your loved one. Dunstanburgh and Tynemouth are open every weekend.

Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens, Lindisfarne Priory and Warkworth Castle will be open daily from 10am – 4pm this February half term (Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 February). Dunstanburgh Castle, Tynemouth Priory and Castle, Etal Castle, Barnard Castle and Chesters, Corbridge and Birdoswald on Hadrian’s Wall, will be open every winter weekend.

You can find out more about English Heritage in Northumberland on the official visitor website for Northumberland.

Print this entry

Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island

From harvesting apples and making cider to wild camping and fixing the fells, the National Trust has over 280 working holidays that provide the opportunity to get outdoors, have fun and play a part in conserving the nation’s heritage.

With prices starting from just £75 including all food and accommodation, there are weekend breaks or week long holidays available across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Plus for the first time a small selection of overseas holidays are now available.

Marianne Wanstall Head of Holidays explains their everlasting appeal,

“National Trust working holidays, which celebrate their 45 anniversary this year, not only ensure that the National Trust’s special places remain open, relevant and accessible, but they also provide amazing opportunities to get onto the land, to learn new skills, to meet new people and to engage with nature and the historic places cared for by the Trust.”

So whether you’re a budding Indiana Jones hoping to dig up history, a green fingered enthusiast in search of a gardening challenge, a lover of the great outdoors or simply looking for a new way to spend time as a family, the National Trust’s working holidays are full of activities and experiences to tempt all ages and backgrounds.

You can find out more aout The National Trust in Northumberland on the official Northumberland visitor website.

Print this entry

Touch the planets at Kielder Observatory

Parents can thank their lucky stars for one of Northumberland’s top visitor attractions has developed a cure for half-term boredom that’s out of this world.

By popular demand, Kielder Observatory in Kielder Water & Forest Park will host a series of star gazing events specifically aimed at space obsessed youngsters with an interest in the night sky.

The award winning facility hosts a year round programme of astronomy events but to get the best of the darkest night skies in England, the events usually take place from 8pm till late. During school holidays, including February half term Friday 10 to Friday 17, there will be additional events aimed at families that start from 5pm.

Gary Fildes, from Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society (KOAS), said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with demand and we’re often asked to open the doors earlier to enable families with young kids to get home in time to get the little ones to bed.”

Ian Cuthbertson from Sunderland and his children, Cameron (7) and Faye (3) (pictured), attended a Junior Aurora Night. Ian said: “The event was brilliant. It’s an amazing facility and a great place to spend time as a family. It’s just a really fun way for them to learn some cool stuff – the expert team have bags of knowledge and enthusiasm and fired up the kids’ passion for star gazing.”

Visitors will be able to use the powerful telescopes to look at deep sky objects such as galaxies that lay millions of light years distant. During the half term events there will be an exceptional chance to see five planets in one night.

Gary added: “It’s a very rare event but we will hopefully get the opportunity to observe five visible planets starting with Venus in the west, then to Uranus, Jupiter then Mars, finishing off late with Saturn.

The events include a talk from an expert astronomer, a tour of the facility and use of the telescopes.

All events must be pre-booked by visiting www.kielderobservatory.org and clicking on the event calendar. For enquiries telephone 07805 638 469.

Print this entry

Deadwater Fell

Hardy trail builders are going up in the world to build the longest competition downhill mountain bike route of its kind in England.

Wielding shovels and pitch forks and armed with gritty determination in the face of winter weather, mountain bike fans expect to have the two mile trail built by October in spectacular 62,000 hectare (155,000 acre) Kielder Water & Forest Park.

Downhill mountain biking is not for the faint hearted, involving a rapid descent against the clock and fiendishly complicated technical sections.

The Forestry Commission is working with Northern Downhill on the exciting new trail, which will have its starting line on the 2,000 foot Northumbrian summit of Deadwater Fell.

“It will be the biggest vertical drop of any downhill trail built in England,” said Philip Grimes from Northern Downhill.  “It will be a major challenge getting it done, but the potential to create something really special in Kielder is the incentive.”

Britain is a hotbed for downhill biking and the current world champion, Danny Hart, comes from Redcar in North East England.  He cut his teeth in another Forestry Commission woodland – Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland.

Alex MacLennan, Recreation and  Public Affairs Manager (North East) with Forestry Commission, said:

“Kielder lends itself to superlatives and the new trail will be a spectacular addition to the mountain biking scene in Britain.  The forest park already boasts the country’s longest family and intermediate bike routes, the highest cross country trail and the toughest endurance event, helping to make it a prime mountain bike venue. Hosting downhill events throughout the winter each year is key in attracting attract more visitors to the area at a traditionally quiet time of year”.

Northern Downhill is staging five races in northern Britain this year, culminating in a final joust for prizes at Kielder on 20 and 21 October, when the new trail – which will be used for competitions only – will be employed for the first time.  Bike fans are being urged to join weekend trail building sessions.  To find out more contact Philip Grimes on info@northerndownhill.co.uk.

More details of bike routes at Kielder can be found at www.visitkielder.com

Print this entry

Featured on the programme was Hadrian’s Wall, which was once patrolled by soldiers from all corners of the Roman Empire. Michael also visited Vindolanda Roman Fort which is an important archaeological site, giving us a fantastic insight into what Roman life in Northumberland actually was like. He also visited the beautiful town of Haltwhistle to discover the historical significance of the railway and the take in the beautiful Northumberland countryside scenery.

You can watch the episode again on the BBC iplayer.

Print this entry

Michael visited the historic walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and the magnificent Royal Berwick Border bridge. He continued to Alnwick via Alnmouth railway station to visit Barter Books, which was previously Alnwick’s railway station; and stay at The White Swan hotel to visit the first class dining room from the Olympic, the Titanic’s sister ship. He concluded his Northumberland visit by travelling further south to Morpeth station to visit Woodhorn Museum near Ashington and marvel at the artwork produced by the Pitmen Painters.

We’d love to hear what you thought of the episode. Please leave your comments below.

You can plan your railway trip to Northumberland with cheap railway travel on the official visitor website for Northumberland.

You can watch the episode of Great British Railway Journeys featuring Northumberland on the BBC iplayer.

Print this entry

Driving in Kielder Water & Forest Park

Residents of England’s most remote village are celebrating plans to re-open the area’s only local petrol station, which was shut down in 2008.

The news is a welcome relief to those living in Kielder Village who have spent the last four years having to complete a 35-mile round trip to get fuel after the petrol station was forced to close because of high running costs.

Steve Webb, who runs Kielder Village Store, said: “Fantastic news – this will most certainly change our lives. Most people expect to be able to fill up on their doorstep as normality but we have just had to manage. This will be a major asset for villagers and tourists alike. Without the efforts of Kielder Limited and Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust this wouldn’t have happened and we would have been just another statistic, another rural business lost.

“But there was so much determination from core members who were relentlessly dedicated and to them we are incredibly thankful for making this happen.”

The £90,000 project to re-open the petrol station will start early in the New Year. Some 180 residents of Kielder Village, hundreds of thousands of tourists and large rural businesses with bases in Kielder Water & Forest Park – such as Northumbrian Water and the Forestry Commission – will be able to fill up at the pumps come spring 2012.

Tom Grimwood, chair of Kielder Limited, a volunteer run community charity that will manage the petrol station, said: “It has been long road trying to achieve our goal of re-opening Kielder Petrol Station, with lots of hard work around the feasibility of this project and in particular, when sourcing funding. It is very important we get this right and ensure the business is sustainable so this time round it is open for good.”

The petrol station, thought to be the only one of its kind in England, will be an un-manned station, run by a local community group, where customers will pay by credit or debit card prior to filling up. It will be open for fuel from 7am to 7pm (with longer opening hours during the summer) seven days a week. There will also be an electric hook up point later in year.

Elisabeth Rowark, director of Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, said: “The closure had come at a devastating time because investment in tourism was really beginning to take off. Capital development projects including new mountain biking trails and the Lakeside Way, a trail that encircles the shoreline of Kielder Water, had begun and in the last three years have dramatically increased visitor numbers to the area.

“But a lot of tourists were caught short. They ran out of petrol and had to be rescued by the police. This is excellent news for the local community and for the hoards of visitors who come to enjoy activities, star gazing, wildlife and events in this spectacular part of Northumberland.”

Tom added: “The original petrol station had staffing costs and could only open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, but the new un-manned pumps mean that opening times will be increased and the service will be much improved.”

Funding for the ground-breaking project has come from Northumberland Uplands Local Action Group – LEADER, Kielder Limited, Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Northumberland County Council Social Enterprise and Northumberland County Council West Area Committee.

Print this entry

Sloe Berries at Wallington

The sound of heavy rain as I wake up is not going to dampen my spirits on the day I head out for November’s foraging expedition.

I’m off to meet Rob Caton at Wallington to look among the hedgerows for some sloe berries to make one of my favourite winter drinks … sloe gin.

As it happens, by the time I’m up and ready and have packed the car with waterproofs and my gin-making kit, the rain has stopped and the sun is shining, and for a November morning, it’s quite mild.

We meet at the car park at Wallington before heading out along the nearby country lanes in search of a blackthorn hedge laden with berries. By all accounts it’s a good year for sloes, so I am hopeful for a bumper crop. I’m already wondering whether I could make enough sloe gin to give little bottles for gifts at Christmas. Mind you, I may not want to share it!

By Sadie Parker (National Trust)

Find out more about Wallington House &  Gardens in Northumberland.

Print this entry

Our industrial past

School children are being given the chance to become young history detectives and delve into Northumberland’s industrial and social past in a new scheme being run at a leading visitor attraction.

Dusty documents, old photographs and historical records have been turned into learning tools for youngsters visiting the £16m Woodhorn Museum and Archives Centre near Ashington.

They are being used to help inquisitive school pupils find out more about the region’s past, including key aspects of its once-mighty coal mining and fishing industries.

Each year thousands of young people are introduced to Woodhorn through its extensive education programme, with schools from all over the North East visiting the museum and archives. Now, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery and the work of the museum’s Working Lives project team, a number of new workshops have been developed for young visitors.

Find out more about Woodhorn Museum

Print this entry

Woodhorn Museum

A FILM made by teenagers who took part in a Big Brother-style time travel experiment at a North East castle has gone on show to visitors at a heritage museum.

Three months ago, 35 young volunteers spent five days locked away at remote Featherstone Castle in Northumberland, experiencing what life was like for their counterparts back in the 1840s.

Dressed in period costume for the duration of their stay, they had to survive without modern-day “essentials” such as their mobile phones, computers, TVs and fast food, as they were propelled back to early Victorian times.

Find out more and visit Woodhorn Museum & County Archives.

The Heritage Big Brother project involved the group living, learning, entertaining themselves and even cooking according to the ways of the mid-19th Century, with heritage professionals and youth workers ensuring that the experience was as realistic and challenging as possible.

Print this entry

Finds from digs at Arbeia Roman fort in South Shields have offered convincing evidence that the Emperor Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta were at the base as they prepared for a campaign into Scotland.

Because the imperial family and court were present, that would have effectively meant that the empire would have been governed from South Shields.

Read more: When Roman empire was ruled from South Shields – Today’s News – News – JournalLive.

Print this entry

Seaton Delaval Hall

The National Trust in the North East and Yorkshire is embarking on the most unique auction ever in a bid to solve your present buying troubles this Christmas.

From romance to wildlife and everything in between the Trust has it all covered with some fantastic experiences up for grabs including a wedding at Washington Old Hall, a candlelit dinner for two at the top of Souter Lighthouse, a Georgian dinner for eight at Seaton Delaval Hall and a chance to look behind the scenes in Armstrong’s former home – Cragside.

The auction begins on eBay on Tuesday 22 November and all funds raised will go towards helping the National Trust – the UK’s largest conservation charity – to conserve the places they look after including miles of coastline and acres of countryside as well as historic houses, castles and gardens.

The project is being managed by Simon Lee, the National Trust’s new property manager for Lindisfarne Castle and the Northumberland Coast, he told us:

“As a charity the Trust is always looking for new ways to raise funds for the places we look after. The auction is about us offering people some really unique experiences so that we are able to upkeep some of the region’s most precious landscapes and historic buildings.”

The final details of all auction lots are being put together in the next two weeks before the bidding goes live on the 22 November. All auctions will close on the 19 November. Simon continued:

“This really is an opportunity to buy somebody a truly one-off Christmas gift that they will never forget, and at the same time, put money to a good cause by supporting local conservation.”

For more details visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ebay

Find out more about National Trust Properties in Northumberland

Print this entry

Eshot Hall Hotel

Since opening last year, Eshott Hall has quickly become renowned  as one of the foremost hotels in Northumberland. Now thanks to a major expansion of their restaurant even more people will be able to find out just why the hotel has already become an award winner, receiving a coveted AA Rosette within its first year.

This autumn Eshott Hall is to open the doors of its restaurant  to the public serving Sunday Lunch from 18th November  and traditional Afternoon Tea. This is a restaurant  for those who are serious about food and during the Autumn for the serious foodies, the hotel will also host a number of special gourmet events including a Nine Course Tasting Evening on 9th December.

For Sunday lunch, diners might choose Craster Smoked Salmon with Beetroot & Heritage Potato Salad or Estate Rabbit Rillette with Toasted Brioche and Apple Chutney followed by Roast Sirloin of Wallington Hall Beef or Ingram Valley Lamb Shank with all the expected trimmings and more. If they still have room, there is a good selection of puddings including Dark Chocolate, Honey & Almond Cheesecake with Orange Scented Chantilly, Warm Ginger Pudding with Chefs Vanilla Ice Cream and Brandy Butterscotch Sauce as well as Northumbrian & French Cheeses.

The Hotel’s supplier list are bywords for renowned local producers: Robsons of Craster, Frank Round of North Shields and Swallows of Seahouses supply fish; Blagdon Farm, Wallington Hall and Northumberland Poultry of Longhorsley provide meat and poultry; Trotters Family Bakers in Seahouses and Border Homebake of Haltwhistle are the hotel’s bakers; eggs are from Sunnyhills in Belford; and Coffee is from Pumphreys of Blaydon.

Head Chef Chris Wood, Sous Chef Andrew Blakey both who have trained under some of the foremost chefs in the UK the rest of the team have a strict local sourcing policy “We have a plentiful variety of high quality produce available in Northumberland that is a pleasure to use. As well as using local suppliers for meat, cheese, fish and bread, we grow as many of our own herbs and vegetables as possible, here in the kitchen garden at Eshott.”

Served in the elegant Drawing Room, the full Afternoon Tea is priced at only £9.50 per person. This quintessential British meal offers everything one would expect from a fine country house hotel. Guests will enjoy a choice of freshly made sandwiches, cream scones and home-made cakes. If you would like to make it an extra special occasion, why not indulge with a bottle of Champagne! To finish diners are welcome to take a stroll around the grounds including the abundant kitchen garden.

Dan Ball, who manages the Hall with his wife Louise, is delighted with the new fine dining events on the hotel’s calendar. He says, “Eshott Hall is a perfect venue for a special occasion, romantic evening or night out with friends – it’s now a place to taste great food.  We are delighted that even more people will have the chance to enjoy the menu created by Chris Wood and his team – menus are guaranteed to be new and exciting and full of seasonal treats and temptations.”
For the serious foodie on December 9th is the Gourmet dinner – there will be chance to try the locally inspired gourmet tasting menu which runs to a magnificent 9 courses.

The evening begins with Champagne & Canapés and Chefs Amuse Bouche followed by a Confit Pheasant Roulade, Pan Fried Quail Breast with Beetroot & Red Lentil, then Lobster & Crayfish Salad with Saffron Heritage Potato. All this is before the main event of Ingram Valley Lamb Loin with Rosemary, Wild Mushroom & Cabbage Dome and Glazed Lamb Sweetbreads. The tasting will also allow diners to try a range of sweet delights including Champagne & Truffle Granite, Apple & Calvados Soufflé, Chocolate Dome, Orange Marshmallow, Caramel Sea Salt Ice cream and finally Coffee & Petit Fours! Tickets are priced at £75 inclusive of menu and aperitif.

The Hall has eleven large beautifully decorated and furnished bedrooms, a drawing room, library, dining room and orangery.  It is one of Northumberland’s most beautiful 17th century country houses and enjoys and idyllic setting surrounded by tranquil gardens and ancient woodland.  Within the grounds are a tennis court, fernery, lake and functioning kitchen garden. Earlier this year it was awarded 5 AA Stars for its Bed & Breakfast and a coveted AA Rosette for its fine dining. The hotel is open for lunch, dinner, corporate functions and weddings.

Afternoon Tea is now available daily at £9.50 per person. Sunday lunch from 18th November is priced at £17.00 per person for two courses and £22.00 a head for three courses.  The Tasting Evening is on 9th December, and is £75 per person. Booking is essential for all events.

Find out more about Eshott Hall.

Print this entry

Alex MacLennan who took time out from creating mountain bike trails in Kielder to ride down one of them in aid of the Calvert Trust

Not content with overseeing the massive expansion of mountain bike routes in Kielder Water & Forest Park, Alex MacLennan from Bellingham put on his finest shorts to race hell for leather down one of the beauty-spot’s toughest trails for charity.

The Forestry Commission recreation chief took part in a mass downhill race in the spectacular 155,000 acre wilderness to raise money for the Calvert Trust Kielder  on Sunday.   The  pulse quickening descent from the top of 2,000 foot Deadwater Fell – the highest off road trail in England – took  Alex  17 minutes  and 9 seconds,  testing nerve and sinew.   Alex hopes to raise about £200 for his helter-skelter ride.

He explained:

“Calvert  Trust  do awesome work and I am always inspired by what they do, so I felt it was only right to do get involved raising cash. The mass downhill is a fabulous event where  50 riders set  out at the same time to race down Deadwater Fell. The weather was very  misty  at the top,  but it’s a heck of a ride and I’m  very pleased to have come in 31st position with 37 riders finishing. ”

The event is organised by Northern Downhill, which stages races across the north of England. Winner Jo Young won the race in just under 12 minutes.

Find out more about Kielder Water & Forest Park

Print this entry

Doxford Hall Hotel

Doxford Hall is offering a new birding break in the new year intended for those who are beginners or have a basic knowledge of birding, and would like to explore the scenic North Northumberland coast in winter. Two whole day trips includes Includes visits to Seahouses, Monkshouse Pool on the way to Bamburgh to walk up to Budle Point. Then inland route to Waren Mill, checking fields for feeding geese, and stream and copse for passerines. Budle Bay for waders and ducks. A whole day trip to Holy Island, via Causeway with stops at appropriate places to view waders, geese, ducks etc. Perhaps a bit of sight-seeing of the Priory and Castle.

The birding breaks are available from Sunday 19th February 2012 for 3 nights.

The ‘Birding Break’ includes:

Dinner, bed and breakfast each night, 2 packed lunches.
£280.00 per person based on 2 people sharing a twin or double room. (£30.00 per person, per night single room supplement is applicable).

Find out more about the Birding Break

Find out more about Doxford Hall Hotel

Find out more about Birdwatching in Northumberland

Print this entry