Luxury Coastal Retreats in Northumberland
Northumberland
Once part of the Roman Empire Northumberland was the scene of many wars between England and Scotland. As evidence of its violent history, Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England, including the castles of Alnwick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Warkworth.
The region of present-day Northumberland once formed the core of the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia, which was later united with Deira south of the River Tees to form Northumbria. Northumberland is often called the "cradle of Christianity" in England, because it was on Lindisfarne, a tidal island north of Bamburgh, also called Holy Island, that Christianity flourished when monks from Iona were sent to convert the English. Lindisfarne was the home of the Lindisfarne Gospels and Saint Cuthbert, who is buried in Durham Cathedral.
Bamburgh is the historic capital of Northumberland, the "royal" castle from before the unification of England under one monarch. In contemporary times, although Northumberland County Council's offices are in Morpeth, Alnwick and Morpeth contest which of the two is the county town.
The lords of Northumberland once wielded significant power in English affairs because, as the Marcher Lords, they were entrusted with protecting England from Scottish invasion.
Northumberland has a history of revolt and rebellion against the government, as seen in the Rising of the North in Tudor times. These revolts were usually led by the then Dukes of Northumberland, the Percy family. Shakespeare makes one of the Percys, the dashing Harry Hotspur, the real hero of his Henry IV, Part 1.
The county was also a centre for Roman Catholicism in England, as well as of Jacobite feelings after the Restoration. Northumberland became a sort of wild county, where outlaws and Border Reivers hid from the law. However, the frequent cross-border skirmishes and accompanying local lawlessness largely subsided after the Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England under King James I.
Northumberland played a key role in the industrial revolution. Coal mines were once widespread in Northumberland, with collieries at Ashington, Bedlington, Choppington, Netherton, Ellington and Pegswood. The region's coalfields fuelled industrial expansion in other areas of the country, and the need to transport the coal from the collieries to the Tyne led to the development of the first railways. Shipbuilding and armaments manufacture were other important industries.
Today, Northumberland is still largely rural. As the least populated county in England, it commands much less influence in British affairs than in times past. In recent years the county has had considerable growth in tourism due to its scenic beauty and the abundant evidence of its historical significance.
A giraffe casts a shadow against a wall at the London Zoo. (This photo was submitted to My Shot.)
On the dunes of Socotra island, Yemen. Seconds later the camel set off in a run down the dunes, its feet sinking into the sand. It vanished behind the dunes, leaving me with this picture and the most awe-inspiring memories of Socotra. (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
One of the coolest animals (literally) on the planet, the wood frog has the ability to go into complete hibernation (including complete heart stoppage) during the winter season. The heart, lungs, and brain completely freeze. In spring, the frog thaws out and comes "back to life". Spotted at Potato Creek State Park, Indiana. (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Cottages for couples in Northumberland
Dog friendly country retreats in Northumberland
A wet grizzly takes a break and dries off on a log. (This photo was submitted to My Shot.)
Cottages that accept dogs in Northumberland
Dog friendly seaside holiday cottages in the North of England
The herds of elephants found in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania are nothing short of amazing. This beautiful group was walking toward me single file during the golden hour before sunset. I absolutely love the light in Africa! (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Graceful in water, hippos are good swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. At sunset, the animals leave the water and travel overland to graze on grasses. (This photo was submitted to My Shot.)
A group of children watches as a walrus performs at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
5 star award-winning self-catering cottage holidays in coastal Northumberland
Pet friendly coastal cottages in the North of England
This curious calf swam right up to me for a close encounter. I could not have asked for better shooting conditions in the water. (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Most wild cheetahs are found in eastern and southwestern Africa. Perhaps only 12,000 of these big cats remain, and those are under pressure as the wide-open grasslands they favor are disappearing at the hands of human settlers. (This photo was submitted to My Shot.)
Award winning holiday cottages in the heart of North East England
Five star vacation cottages in Alnwick
A mosaic jellyfish floats serenely in the waters of the Coral Sea, about 100 nautical miles from Cairns, Australia. Jellyfish are ubiquitous in the Earth’s oceans. They can thrive in warm water and cold, along coastlines or out in the deep. Their bodies are about 95 percent water. And though they have no brains, jellyfish have somehow been smart enough to survive for over 500 million years.
Once you blow into their trunks they remember you forever. (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Elephant seal flipper, photographed at the Año Nuevo State Reserve in California (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
There are more than 3,000 known nudibranch species, and scientists estimate there are another 3,000 yet to be discovered. So-called Spanish dancers, like this one off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, boast some distinctions over other nudibranchs: First, they can be enormous, reaching a foot and a half (46 centimeters) long. Most nudibranchs are finger-size. Second, it can swim, a skill most of its cousins lack.
Each year lunar tides and Indian Ocean monsoon currents combine to drive plankton and tropical krill into confined bays around the islands of the Maldives. These protein-packed waters invite large concentrations of manta rays to an all-you-can-eat buffet. Despite their large size, with wingspans stretching up to 12 feet (3.6 meters), as many as 200 mantas may pack a football field-sized bay during these feeding frenzies. (This photo was submitted to My Shot.)
Recently, a red fox has been hunting in the marsh behind my condo on the Connecticut shoreline. I've seen her during the early morning hours when I walk my dog and on my way to work. I thought it strange to see a traditionally circumspect creature in such a public venue. These two are the explanation, it turns out. She and her two kits (featured here) have a den within the boulders of the seawall by the town docks. Every day they become more curious of their enraptured audience, us. (This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot.)
5 star award-winning self-catering cottage holidays in coastal Northumberland
Luxurious holiday retreats near Bamburgh