County Dossier
Northumberland
A borderland of kings, saints and warriors.
Northumberland is a maritime county in the far north-east of England, renowned for its dramatic and contrasting landscapes.
At a glance
Northumberland at a glance
A borderland of kings, saints and warriors.
- Northumbria / Bernicia kingdoms' successor
- England/Scotland borders
- Roman occupation (c.70–410 AD)
- Area: 2,019 sq miles
- Population: 797,006
- County Top: The Cheviot
County Geography
Northumberland meets the North Sea on the east, Durham on the south, Cumberland on the west, and Berwickshire and Roxburghshire beyond the northern border. Its county form is set by coast, river frontier, and upland borderland.
The Tyne, the Tweed, the Cheviot side, and the long coast give Northumberland a strong territorial shape.
Map Reference
View Northumberland on the map
Northumberland is the county. The map also shows lieutenancies and council areas that use the county name.
The county.
The lieutenancy.
Council areas.
Places and routes
Newcastle upon Tyne, Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham, and Berwick-upon-Tweed show the county from Tyne-side metropolis and central market town to castle country, western abbey town, and northern border port. Together they explain Northumberland better than the reduced administrative label does.
Connections
Northumberland’s routes have long followed the Tyne corridor, the Great North Road, and the chain of coastal approaches.
Names
- Northumberland
- County of Northumberland
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County Reference
Explore Northumberland
Open the map to explore Northumberland, or return to the county index to browse other counties.