About Tynedale The rivers North and South Tyne begin high in the fells above Allendale and Keilder, the waters meet just to the west of Hexham and the Tyne itself runs east to Newcastle and Tynemouth. North Tynedale lies to the north of the Roman Wall and nowadays is chiefly involved in farming, with some quarrying and, from Kielder, forestry and logging. In the past the dale was an important coal and iron ore mining area with a large iron works at Bellingham. All that remains of this industry are a few cuttings and bridges from the old Tyne railway which ran as far as Kielder, before the valley was flooded in the 1970's to form the current reservoir. Tourist Information Centres are situated all year round in Hexham and during summer season at Bellingham, where there is also a small museum and heritage centre devoted to Tynedale. Northumberland Wark Battlesteads Attractions Wildlife Northumberland - England's Farthest North The wild lands to the north of Hadrian's Wall have a romance all of their own. For drivers it is like stepping back 60 years; although still in England it is possible to drive for half-a-day down twisting country roads without seeing another vehicle, apart from the odd tractor or forestry lorry. At every turn is a castle or turret or fortified Pele tower - the landscape is dotted with ancient settlements, stone circles and mysterious 'cup and ring' marks (Northumberland has more castles within its borders than anywhere else in the world). And through it all flow the rivers of North and South Tyne, the Wansbeck, Till, Coquet, Aln and Rede. This is the land where Romans held back Picts, where Celts were driven out by Angles and Saxons, where major battles between the Scots and the English were fought. Here are the finest stretches of Hadrian's Wall, the most substantial ancient monument in the land. Here are abbeys and churches linked with the earliest story of Christianity in Britain. Here, still guarding the river crossings and the heights where men waged battle in the far-off days of border strife, are strongholds of great stature; even in ruin they have a noble grandeur. Joining it all are remote high moors, Cheviot hills, hundreds of glittering burns and streams and a spectacular 70 mile coastline of rocky headlands, sandy bays and raucous sanctuaries of seabirds. A spectacular county just waiting to be explored.