Bowsden Holidays

If you’re considering a Northumberland holiday, Bowsden may not be the first place to leap to mind, but that’s a pity. It’s a tiny village about six miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and seven miles from the North Sea coastline. While a sleepy village holiday won’t be to everybody’s tastes, it’s Bowsden’s location that’s so important. The Cheviot Hills, a range of hills marking the northernmost point of the Pennines, run just inside the border of England and Scotland, providing stunning vistas and an excellent destination for walking holidays. Walkers less keen on rambling hills may prefer to hike the Devil’s Causeway, a Roman Road which starts 55 miles further south at Port Gate on Hadrian’s Wall, all the way to the River Tweed in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

 

Hiking the north of the Pennine Way is one way of seeing Britain’s wildlife, but when on holiday in Northumberland, especially in the Bowsden area, amateur ornithologists in particular will be fascinated by a trip to Lindisfarne. It’s a tidal island, also known as Holy Island, just off the coast. Part of the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a major portion of the island is protected as the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, and provides a fantastic location for bird-watchers, with the chance to see wigeon, teal, merlin, redwing, fieldfare and pale-bellied Brent goose as well as birds migrating from Siberia such as yellow-browed warblers. Almost 300 species of birds have been recorded as living or visiting Lindisfarne. It’s not just the location and birdlife that draws holiday makers to the island though: the ruined monastery is worth visiting, as is Lindisfarne Castle, originally a Tudor Fort built to ward off the Scots.

 

In an area of such political importance in medieval times, this part of Northumberland has plenty more castles to see too. Try Paxton House in Berwick-upon-Tweed, or the 14^th century and aptly named Chillingham Castle in Alnwick, about eleven miles away. There are also eight golf courses in the area, so golfing holidays are a popular reason to visit, and with activities such as horse riding, cycling and fishing all readily available, suddenly there’s every reason to holiday in Bowsden.