A Magical Mystery Tour of Northumberland Places Quiz

Answer: Berwick

At the outset of the Crimean War (the story goes), Britain declared war on Russia as "Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick-upon-Tweed and all British Dominions" but neglected to include Berwick in the wording of the subsequent peace treaty.

As late as 1966, the Mayor of Berwick chose to reassure the London correspondent of "Pravda" of the town's peaceful intentions: "Please tell the Russian people through your newspaper that they can sleep peacefully in their beds."!

Answer: Warkworth Castle

There are great views of Warkworth Castle from all around the village, not least from the Mill Walk along the Coquet (pronounced Coke-ut for any non-Northumbrians). The castle also has the distinction of appearing in two of Shakespeare's history plays. ("Henry IV" "Parts 1 & 2")

Alnwick Castle also sits on the Coquet but is further inland and not ruined.

Dunstanburgh Castle is on the coast between the villages of Craster and Embleton.

Bamburgh Castle was restored during the nineteenth century by the Victorian industrialist (Lord) William Armstrong. The castle still belonged to the Armstrong family in 2017 but is open to the public and also has apartments for long-term rental which are much sought after.

Answer: The Whin Sill

The Whin Sill is a layer of igneous dolerite which runs diagonally across the North East and which underpins stretches of Hadrian's Wall as well as the castles at Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands.

The dolerite was created by igneous intrusions of magma cooling and solidifying during the Carboniferous Period.

Answer: Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is a spectacular sight and very popular with visitors throughout the year (although it still belongs to the Armstrong family, it is open to the public for an entrance fee).

It has featured as the backdrop to numerous TV and film productions including Roman Polanski's "Macbeth" in 1971 (the first film he directed after the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate).

Answer: Rothbury

Rothbury has gained unwanted recent notoriety for being the unlikely location of the final showdown between Northumbria Police and Raoul Moat, gunman, but remains a beautiful village for residents and visiting holidaymakers and is the gateway to Coquetdale.

William Armstrong (1810-1900), created Baron Armstrong of Cragside in 1887, was a true engineering pioneer. His factory on Tyneside (originally Armstrong Whitworth, later Vickers-Armstrong, BAE Systems and Reece Group) still exists in some form on its original site in the early 21st century.

Answer: Percy

Ralph Percy (b. 1956) is the 12th Duke of Northumberland. The House of Percy dates from William de Perci who followed William the Conqueror from Normandy in the late 11th century.

Harry Hotspur of Shakespearean fame was Sir Henry Percy (1364-1403) who led rebellions against Henry IV and was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury, hit with an arrow to his forehead when he opened his visor.

Answer: Druridge Bay

Unspoilt for now that is... over the years various companies have sought to extract coal and even to build a nuclear power station on the land behind the bay.

Answer: Bastles

Apologies to anyone choosing "Castles" as their answer but the correct name in Northumberland for a fortified building in which the livestock are kept on the ground floor and the family lived above is "Bastle" (probably from the French "bastille").

There was no internal access to the living quarters which could only be reached by a ladder which was hauled up at night.

Answer: Allendale Town

The tar barrels are carried on their heads by "guisers" during the "Tar Bar'l" ceremony. The origins of the ceremony are not known.

Answer: Yeavering Bell

The 12-acre site of Yeavering Bell lies above evidence of a later Saxon settlement.

The other names are all genuine place names in the Cheviots area.