Blanchland - A Story in Stone
Blanchland is within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Set beneath magnificent fells, it is one of the most attractive small villages in the North. Lying to the south of Hexham in a wooded section of the upper Derwent valley, built of stone from the remains of the 12th Century Abbey, the village retains a special atmosphere and has featured in many films and novels.
A place with Jacobite connections, reputedly haunted, the village is steeped in history. Always a remote community, Blanchland flourished during the 19th Century lead mining bonanza and industrial archaeology abounds nearby.
Today it is a centre for walking, sailing and fishing on the Derwent Reservoir, or just wandering and has a children's playground. There are several shops, a gallery, a tea-room and a hotel all clustered around the parish church, an interesting relic of the Abbey.
A highlight of the year is the Blanchland and Hunstanworth Show, a traditional village show on August Bank Holiday Monday.
