It was with huge sadness that we noticed early on Thursday morning that the Sycamore Gap tree had fallen following storm Agnes. We were absolutely broken hearted to learn that this was actually the result of an intentional human act. We thank customers for their emails and calls – this is such a loss to so many, and it is so sad to see the landscape change for this reason.
This was not just a tree – it was so much more than the Layside Logo, or the view from our kitchen window. This living, breathing soul of Northumberland was our sense of place; our sense of belonging, and represented home. I can only hope that this absolute beauty can somehow regenerate, and our young son can watch it grow so that he, his children and his children’s children may recall this event as merely a chapter in the life of this amazing landscape.
On Thursday 2nd June, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a chain of lanterns will be lit along the length of Hadrian’s Wall celebrating not only 70 years on the throne but also the 1900th birthday of the Wall! The lighting of Hadrian’s Wall’s beacons at 21.45 will follow an afternoon of local activities, and will take place against the backdrop of this stunning UNESCO World Heritage site as the Northumberland pipers play, marking the finale of country wide celebrations.
We are hugely pleased to announce that Layside Bed and Breakfast has once again been shortlisted for the North East England Tourism Awards 2020, in the category of B&B / Guest House of the Year! We would like to thank all of our customers who have supported us along the way – and for the feedback and reviews which have helped us to develop and improve. The final awards will be announced in March 2020, but until then we are excited to have made the top 5!
Northumberland scooped the Gold at the 2018 British Travel Awards for “Best UK Holiday County/Destination”. We have come close before now, but have been pipped to the post by Cornwall for the past four years. It is fantastic that we have experienced record visitor numbers to the region, and that so many people have enjoyed the hugely different landscapes and experiences that Northumberland has to offer.
We are proud to announce that Layside has won a Bronze Award for “Bed and Breakfast of the Year 2018”. This announcement was made on 21st November at the North East England Tourism Awards, and it is fantastic to see that Northumberland has scored so highly across a number of categories!
It has been a busy start to the season at Layside and we are finally enjoying some glorious Northumberland sunshine. Last week we were delighted to welcome Helen Pickles to Layside, writing for the Telegraph online “Travel Destinations”, and featuring some great places to stay. We are honoured to be included in this listing which features “the best hotels in Northumberland”, chosen by the Telegraph travel expert, “including luxury hotels, boutique hotels, budget hotels and Northumberland hotel deals”. Follow the link to read on:
Haltwhistle is a small town in Tynedale, Northumberland, approximately 10 minutes drive from Layside. Walking festivals are organised by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who wish to share their love of the local area with others. All walks are guided by trained leaders who aim to provide interesting routes and good information about the area in a friendly and sociable atmosphere. The Spring Walking Festival runs from April 28th to May 7th, and there will be 24 guided walks over the 10 day period as well as 2 evening events.
For a full list of events and for bookings, please visit:
Haltwhistle Walking Festival 2018
The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre at Once Brewed near Bardon Mill opened its doors in July last year following an extensive £14.8m construction project, and has now been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The area’s newest major visitor attraction is in the running for one of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) awards for planning excellence – an award which celebrates exceptional examples of planning.
Tony Gates, chief executive of the Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted among the outstanding projects in the heritage and culture category.”
Just a short distance from Layside, The Sill is a “must visit” attraction. Whether it be to view the permanent interactive exhibition which brings our landscape to life, or simply just to enjoy the spectacular views and wildflowers from the grassland roof, it is the perfect place to begin your Northumberland adventure!
The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre on Hadrian’s Wall, at Once Brewed near Bardon Mill.
Northumberland has been voted the best UK destination to land a top travel award. The county beat the likes of Cornwall, the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire and the Lake District to take the gong in the Reader Travel Awards 2018, organised by Wanderlust travel magazine.
The magazine says that its awards scheme is ‘always highly anticipated, as we have the best-travelled readers around and as the results are based on a satisfaction rating rather than on sheer numbers’.
In the top UK destination category, Northumberland won with a score of 95 per cent, followed by the Scottish Highlands (94.67%) and Dartmoor (94.4%). The rest of the top 10 was: Pembrokeshire 94.29%; Lake District 93.98%; Edinburgh 93.77%; Yorkshire 92.78%; Cornwall 91.02%; New Forest 90.32%; Peak District 90%.
The awards citation reads: ‘With one national park, two areas of outstanding national beauty and one triangular chunk of impressive landscapes, it’s hardly a surprise you think Northumberland is the best bit of Britain. ‘Combining dune-fringed beaches, high moorland, sweeping valleys and spectacular history, it’s no wonder this Scotland-nudging land is touted as one of the UK’s last great wildernesses – and your favourite.
‘It has everything – 2,000-year-old history along Hadrian’s Wall, walking routes webbing its rugged interior, and dark sky status – meaning you’ll enjoy looking at another otherworldly canvas after dark.’ The results of the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards are based on travel experiences between December 2016 and November 2017. For each main category, readers – more than 2,000 of them responded – were asked to list up to four entries and score each one based on their own merits, of which an average was calculated and converted into a percentage.
Hadrian’s Wall is set to receive a cash boost of £10,000 to reflect its economic, cultural and social importance. Northumberland County Council co-ordinates the management of the UNESCO World Heritage Site on behalf of six other local authorities along the length of the Wall, and is keen to increase its annual contribution to help maximise the potential of Hadrian’s Wall.
