Northumberland
Discussion
Hello, I'm looking for some recommendations of places to visit as part of my research for a story I'm writing. Part of the story is set in Northumberland, a place I've never visited, but have a bit of a fascination with as it seems to be steeped in ancient history and intrigue. I find using places I don't know particularly well is a great way to get really immediate and visceral inspiration for stories, as opposed to writing about the same places again and again.
Are any of you north-easterners familiar with a place which might prove a good seeding ground for inspiration?
I'm seeking somewhere very remote and under-populated - ideally a small hamlet or VERY small village, with habitations on the outer-lying edges. Ideally, somewhere that hasn't seen any modern development, and situated very close to an area of wooded, or even forested, land, and doesn't have a mainline train station, bus route or other convenient transport links. I'm looking for somewhere that is very much isolated, and isn't recognised (in the formal sense) with any kind of regional marker (e.g.: famed for its cheese, pork pies, jam or such like).
I guess what I'm really seeking is a place that, whilst it is inhabited, has an air of the forgotten about it. Somewhere where the most 'recent' habitations may be a couple of once-grand Victorian villas, or a manor house that's long fallen into disrepair. A place with a sense of the haunted about it.
My ideal place would have a very small 'village centre', possibly not even a shop or pub, with a few houses spread widely on its perimeters. If any of the houses are actually set within wooded areas, all the better!
All recommendations will be vastly appreciated.
Many thanks!
Are any of you north-easterners familiar with a place which might prove a good seeding ground for inspiration?
I'm seeking somewhere very remote and under-populated - ideally a small hamlet or VERY small village, with habitations on the outer-lying edges. Ideally, somewhere that hasn't seen any modern development, and situated very close to an area of wooded, or even forested, land, and doesn't have a mainline train station, bus route or other convenient transport links. I'm looking for somewhere that is very much isolated, and isn't recognised (in the formal sense) with any kind of regional marker (e.g.: famed for its cheese, pork pies, jam or such like).
I guess what I'm really seeking is a place that, whilst it is inhabited, has an air of the forgotten about it. Somewhere where the most 'recent' habitations may be a couple of once-grand Victorian villas, or a manor house that's long fallen into disrepair. A place with a sense of the haunted about it.
My ideal place would have a very small 'village centre', possibly not even a shop or pub, with a few houses spread widely on its perimeters. If any of the houses are actually set within wooded areas, all the better!
All recommendations will be vastly appreciated.
Many thanks!
Drive up to Powburn and turn left just outside the village and head into the Ingram Valley on the river Breamish.Go and have a walk up Cheviot and look down for miles over the county. Go also to kielder via Bellingham but then head through the top of Kielder via Deadwater (the source of the North tyne.) Go and look at Steelroad and If you like intrigue go and look at what was once Riccarton Junction..Top of Northumberland and possibly scotland..proper Reiver country. .
Riccarton Junction had a train station But it was the true meaning of isolation...
http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/northumberland-...
N.
Riccarton Junction had a train station But it was the true meaning of isolation...
http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/northumberland-...
N.
Edited by Dollyman1850 on Monday 26th January 20:10
Edited by Dollyman1850 on Monday 26th January 20:12
Edited by Dollyman1850 on Monday 26th January 20:14
Edited by Dollyman1850 on Monday 26th January 20:17
No-one there now but this is a fab walk to a ruined farmstead in middle of nowhere.
'Close' to Powmill mentioned earlier....
http://goo.gl/maps/diwPd
'Close' to Powmill mentioned earlier....
http://goo.gl/maps/diwPd
I second Ingram - remote and definitely Slaughtered Lamb company (other horror movies are available for comparison).
While you are in that area have a look at Rothbury - it may be a little large for what you describe as it has several pubs and is a Sunday Bikers destination - but there are several villages around it that may fit your needs.
Eg Simonside woods just to the south of Rothbury. Wild, ancient history in the form of cup stones and remains of very very old villages or settlements, long time before the Romans ventured over. When you're there it's easy to imagine the old tribes living there, and there are as yet ( thankfully) no ice cream shops or sellers of tat.
Best of luck with it, hope you post on here when it's done so we can have a look
While you are in that area have a look at Rothbury - it may be a little large for what you describe as it has several pubs and is a Sunday Bikers destination - but there are several villages around it that may fit your needs.
Eg Simonside woods just to the south of Rothbury. Wild, ancient history in the form of cup stones and remains of very very old villages or settlements, long time before the Romans ventured over. When you're there it's easy to imagine the old tribes living there, and there are as yet ( thankfully) no ice cream shops or sellers of tat.
Best of luck with it, hope you post on here when it's done so we can have a look
Just come back to this thread after not checking it for a couple of weeks and found some truly inspiring places to check out. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I'll definitely post a link once the novella is published. We're planning on making it available digitally, as well as a limited edition run of paperbacks, and accompanied by a suitably eerie soundscape! Thanks again, I really appreciate your input.
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