Northumberland - These Stones Are Here to Stay

Posted by Cathy Smith Oct 1, 2007

Rolling Stone, Bill Wyman may be getting on a bit but he’s far from being as ancient as some other stones that interest him. A few years ago his interest in archeology brought him to Lordenshaws, an Iron Age hill fort in Northern Northumberland. And a few weeks ago I and my friend Jane followed in his steps.

We wanted to do some hiking in Northumberland National Park and to have a look at the mysterious 5,000-year-rock carvings, scratched into abstract shapes on giant slabs of rock. The reason behing these carvings is unknown but, running your hands over them while standing on a heather-covered hillside to which people have been coming for thousands of years is really something.

Prehistoric rock art is the oldest form of artistic expression and Northumberland is a treasure trove of historic archeological remains. There are ancient trackways, earthworks and burial cairns, plus miles of remote, beautiful scenery. It’s not exactly rock and roll but it’s just as exciting. Presently there are ten national parks in England and Wales and all have something special to offer.

For overseas visitors it’s a great way to see aspects of the country far removed from the tourist scene.