Northumberland - Birds & History

This four-day tour begins in Newcastle, with participants meeting at the railway station at noon (airport transfers available on request). Taking place in summer, the trip combines birdwatching and exploration of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while enjoying the seasonal abundance of birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and scenic Northumberland landscapes.

The tour begins with a visit to Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum, once guarding the eastern gateway of Hadrian’s Wall. The site offers panoramic views from its 35-metre tower, a reconstructed section of the Wall, and displays of artefacts illustrating Roman frontier life. If time allows, the group will also explore the Great North Museum: Hancock, with its collection of Roman relics. We then travel west to Hexham to stay at the Beaumont Hotel, a restored Victorian townhouse overlooking Hexham Abbey. Evening walks along the River Tyne and nearby woods may reveal Kingfishers, Dippers, Warblers, Pied Flycatchers, and perhaps Nightjars or Woodcocks at dusk.

The tour moves to Magna Roman Fort and the Roman Army Museum near Brampton. Exhibits here, including a rare Roman helmet crest and preserved hipposandals, provide vivid insight into Roman military life. The day’s highlight is a nine-mile walk along Hadrian’s Wall from Magna to Housesteads Fort, passing through some of northern England’s most striking countryside. Participants can expect to see Curlews, Redshanks, Stonechats, and Meadow Pipits, with Buzzards, Kestrels, and possibly Peregrines or Merlins overhead. The walk includes a reflective stop at the former Sycamore Gap tree, followed by an optional drink at the Twice Brewed Inn before returning to the hotel for dinner.

We will visit to RSPB Geltsdale, a vast upland reserve within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its heather moorland, bogs, and wooded valleys support diverse birdlife, including breeding waders such as Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, and Common Sandpiper, as well as raptors like Merlin, Buzzard, and Peregrine Falcon. Conservation efforts here focus on Black Grouse protection, peatland restoration, and habitat recovery. In the afternoon, the group explores Vindolanda, a Roman settlement famed for its preserved wooden writing tablets—personal letters that offer intimate glimpses into daily life nearly two millennia ago.

The final day visits Chesters Roman Fort, known for its cavalry barracks and riverside setting, and Corbridge, once a Roman supply town with extensive excavations and museum displays. The tour concludes with a scenic return to Newcastle Station by early afternoon, after four days rich in Roman history, wildlife encounters, and the natural beauty of Northumberland’s upland landscapes.