The waters along the stunning coastline are home to seals, dolphins and a wide array of sea creatures, while vast areas of unspoilt countryside are home to ospreys, red squirrels and much more. If you’re looking for something a little more unusual is what you’re looking for, lemurs, meerkats and other exotic animals and birds can be found in the county’s zoos. Here is a flavour of what Northumberland has to offer…
9. Wild goats, Northumberland National Park
The feral goat herds in the Cheviots are regarded as a good example of a primitive goat that helped sustain people of the British Isles from the times of the earliest Neolithic farmers. They pre-date modern goat breeds and are hardy, living a totally wild existence. The College Valley and Hethpool are among the best places to see them. Photo: Graeme Bone
10. Red squirrels
Northumberland is one of the few areas in the country that is still populated by red squirrels. There are approximately 140,000 red squirrels in the UK and 2.5million greys. Red squirrels are our native species and have lived in the UK for around 10,000 years, grey squirrels were introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians in the 1800s, the first record of them escaping and establishing a wild population is 1876, since when they have bullied the smaller reds out of all but a few pockets of the country. Photo: Jane Coltman
11. Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens
Plan a fun filled day out at Kirkley Hall where there is so much to see and do. You'll meet all types of animals in the zoo including rainbow lorikeets, macaws and bearded dragons (pictured). Photo: Jane Coltman
12. Otters, River Tweed
Wild otters are elusive but it is occasionally possible to spot them on the River Tweed in Berwick along New Road between the Old Bridge and Chateau Pedro. Photo: Colin Hardy