Northumberlandia

Northumberlandia, also known as the Lady of the North, is a land sculpture by artist Charles Jencks. The figure of a reclining lady can be seen from the air, and if you are flying back to Newcastle Airport anytime, you will be able to see the shape of Northumberlandia as you come in to land.

It is a brilliant place for a wander. It has around 4 miles of footpaths (if you go around EVERY path) and you get lovely views of the Lady of the North from every angle. At some points, the sculpture is around 100 feet high and the footpaths up are pretty steep and rocky. Good footwear is recommended.

The 360 degree views from the top are fantastic and worth the walk. On a clear day, you are able to see out to the coast, miles of Northumberland countryside and The Cheviot to the North.

The idea for the sculpture came from the landowners of the Blagdon Estate and the Banks Group who applied to dig for coal in the area in 2004. They wanted to provide a legacy for future generations and got in touch with landscape architect Charles Jencks who loved the idea. The project, which took 2 years to complete, was funded by the Blagdon Estate and the Banks Group and cost £3 million.

Charles Jencks was the designer for a number of sculpture parks including Jupiter Artland just outside of Edinburgh. He was also the co-founder of 'Maggies Centres', which are a network of drop-in centres aiming to help anyone affected by cancer. The centres are said to provide uplifting environments for cancer care.

As well as providing an exciting new space for people to walk around, Northumberlandia is also a haven for wildlife. Kestrels, Buzzards, Heron's and many more species of birds have been spotted here.

Northumberlandia is free, however, there is a suggested donation of £2 for parking. There are loos and a cafe on site.