With the advantage of being right on the Scottish Border holiday cottages in the Northumberland National Park will introduce you to a fascinating area. It is the most northerly national park in England covering just under 400 square miles and includes part of Hadrian’s Wall as well as the wild and unspoilt Kielder Forest.

The size of Kielder Forest will impress you and is England’s largest area of forest. As well as trees there are vast open spaces, a man-made lake, a blanket bog, a red squirrel reserve, a Minotaur Maze and Skyspace and a network of mountain bike trails. Here you can enjoy peace and quiet or adventure and bird watchers can look out for Northumberland’s osprey population. Walkers will discover contemporary art and architecture in this striking rural setting including a futuristic shelter, a buried circular construction to gaze at the stars and dark skies, a maze, an iconic bridge plus much more.

Falston is a great base to explore the whole area, including the Scottish Borders, and nestles below the dam of Kielder Water on a loop of the River North Tyne. With community gardens and picnic area, a children’s play area, tearooms, a pub and riverside trial it’s a perfect place for families.

Wooler lies on the northern edge of the national park near the Cheviot Hills, home to The Cheviot, the highest point in the national park at 815 meters, so a popular base for walkers. The nearby foothills, quiet back roads and bridleways are also ideal for cycling and horse riding. Anglers will be delighted at the sparkling rivers which are home to superb game and coarse fishing; you can catch salmon and trout on a good day.

The small village of Otterburn lies on the banks of the River Rede near to where it joins Otter Burn and perfect to explore the beautiful Redesdale Valley. Look carefully and you may spot otter footprints along the muddy river banks. You’ll find a selection of pubs, restaurants and shops as well as Otterburn Mill showcasing the weaving trade as it used to be.

A visit to the Otterburn Ranges, owned by the Ministry of Defence since 1911, will take you to the wild heart of the national park and is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. Moorland birds, wild goats and even the elusive black grouse flourish here with so few people around, truly a place to get away from it all and back to nature.

A cottage rental in the Northumberland National Park is the best way to make the most of a holiday here giving you the space and freedom to do just what you want when you want, make sure you plan a break here very soon.