Northumberlandia

There can't be many restoration projects that have resulted in such an unusual and useful piece of ground art. The restoration of the adjacent Shotton surface coal mine has produced Northumberlandia a reclining lady of the North set in 46 acres of country park and provides some 4 miles of walks on or around the sculpture. Made of 1.5 million tonnes of rock, clay and soil, she is 100 feet high and a quarter of a mile long. Put aside the titter of young boys who delight on yelling that they are jumping on one or even both of her breasts, there are some very bracing walks to be had up and down the paths that follow her curves. Undoubtedly the best view of the form can be seen from a helicopter or hot air balloon, but on a clear day there are some nice views to be had from the high spots. That's of the surrounding countryside and the lady's form from various positions. There is a café and toilets on site and a fairly sizeable car park. All this is free but a donation of £2 per car or £1 per person is requested. Although all of the paths are hard packed mud and stone, the gradients and the puddles of water after heavy rain mean you should consider carefully if this is for you if you are in a wheelchair or have mobility issues. You can stick to the lower paths to make the experience easier. Nice place to visit on a good day. See The Cheese Farm to an alternative to the on site café.