Discover the Golden Age of Northumbria
The Golden Age of Northumbria project invites you to discover the unique Anglo-Saxon and early Christian heritage of north Northumberland.
Our Festival is based on the calendar of Feast Days of saints of the Golden Age of Northumbria.
Activities have been themed around four of our most famous and best-loved saints.
Programme of Events
Saturday
23rd-Sunday 31st August
Holy Island
St
Aidan's Festival
SATURDAY, 23rd August
From 3.00pm Walk from Lindisfarne Heritage Centre to St. Mary’s
Church via St. Aidan's Statue (with piper reading from the Gospels)
SUNDAY, 24th August
10.45 Parish Eucharist for St Bartholomew
5.30 Island Treasures Series: Aidan. Hild and the Celts:
presentation by the Aidan and Hilda Community
MONDAY, 25th August (Bank Holiday)
3.00pm Concert with lots of local entries, music and poetry
followed by cream tea on the Vicarage Lawn.
TUESDAY, 26th August
3.00pm Village Voices Choir from Seahouses
WEDNESDAY, 27th August
3.00pm The Shadow of Aidan – some imagined encounters
with the saint, written by Canon Kate Tristram
THURSDAY, 28th August
10.00am & 3.00pm Elfreda Elford reminisces with her paintings
on loan in St. Mary’s Church
FRIDAY, 29th August
11.00am Catholic Mass - Father Tony Owen
12.00 noon Sharing our Treasures - contributions from the
various Christian Communities represented on the Island (Northumbria Community,
Community of SS Aidan and Hilda, Franciscans, St. Cuthbert’s Centre,
Marygate House)
SATURDAY, 30th August
5.30pm First Evensong of St. Aidan (with our Children)
SUNDAY, 31st August
10.45am St. Aidan's Day. Parish Eucharist with special
preacher Revd. Malcolm Jones
Beating of the Bounds and blessing of the Village from the Heugh
5.30pm Prayer around Palestine (PCDC presentation)
All the events take place in St. Mary’s Church, Holy Island, unless
otherwise stated.
Admission FREE
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th
August
Coldingham & St Abbs
Saturday
23rd August
11.00am, Guided Walk: Coldingham-St. Abbs
Start at Coldingham Cross 6 miles 4 hoursA coastal walk to the site of St. Ebba's famous short-lived mionastery on the cliff top at At St Abbs,led by membes of Berwick Ramblers..
Click here for details of parking and transport
FREE walk (for further details or to confirm- tel: 01289 330218 by 5pm on 22nd August)
1.00pm, Guided Walk: St. Abbs Visitor Centre-Site of Ebba's Monastery
FREE short walk returning to St Abbs 3.00pm.
2.00-5.00pm & 6.00-7.30pm, Robertson Hall, Coldingham
E xhibition on St Ebba at the Robertson Hall, Coldingham. Historic representations and modern artists.
2.00pm-4.00pm, Coldingham Priory
Priory open with displays.
Sunday 24th August
2.15pm & 3.30pm, St. Abbs Harbour
Short sail for a sea view of the monastery site.
Places limited to 12 each time.
Book at the Robertson Hall on Sat. afternoon or by phoning 018907 71300
2.00pm - 4.30pm, Robertson Hall, Coldingham
Exhibition on St. Ebba at the Robertson Hall, Coldingham.
2.00pm-4.00pm Coldingham Priory
Priory open with displays.
St. Abbs NTS Visitor Centre
Three small displays on local rhymes.
Sunday 24th August, from 4.30pm
Ebb's Nook, Beadnell
St
Ebba's Festival
Storytelling for families by Berwick Writers Workshop
From 5.00pm, Beadnell Family picnic to celebrate Ebba's Day
6.00pm Celtic Service
Admission FREE
Sunday 31st August
Bamburgh
St
Aidan's Festival
Details to be announcedAdmission FREE
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 24th May–Tuesday
30th September, 1.00pm-5.00pm daily (except Wednesdays)
Main Guard, Quay Walls, Berwick-upon-Tweed
The
Golden Age of Northumbria Exhibition
Exhibition created by Berwick Civic Society illustrating aspects of the history
of the district in the Anglo-Saxon period. Admission FREE
Monday 1st–Sunday 7th September
St Cuthbert's Festival
Programme of themed outdoor activities.
As well as experienced walk leaders, each activity will include expert interpretation
of the historical or natural heritage, living history or other performances
relating to the theme of the Golden Age of Northumbria.
Wherever possible, the activities are organised to be accessible for people
using cars or public transport to or from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Where necessary
a free shuttle bus will operate. The walks are free of charge.
Details of car parking, public transport and shuttle bus arrangements for
each activity are available from here or from
Berwick TIC on 01289 330733.
For any activity involving shuttle transport, booking is required by 5pm
two days prior to the event. Tickets for the boat trips can be booked in
advance or paid for on the day of the activity, but spaces are limited.
All participants are requested to wear appropriate footwear and clothing,
and bring packed lunches. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent
or guardian. No dogs allowed.
The walks are free but booking is advisable. Tel: 01289 330218 by 5pm two days before the event.
Monday 1st September, 10.45am
Guided
Walk: Melrose – Dryburgh – St. Boswells
Start at Melrose Abbey 7.5 miles 4.5 hours
Led by members of Berwick Ramblers. The walk covers the first section of
St. Cuthbert’s Way, beginning at Melrose where Cuthbert became a monk.
The route along the Tweed Valley passes Dryburgh Abbey and ends at St. Boswells,
named after St. Boisil who was the first to recognise Cuthbert’s holiness.
Along the way you will meet Boisil who will tell you some of his stories
about Cuthbert's early life. The walk is organised in association with the
Borders Festival of Walking.
Click here for
more information about the Borders Festival of Walking
Click here for details of parking
and transport.
FREE walk
Tuesday 2nd September, 2.30pm
Themed
Boat Trip to Lindisfarne
Start at Seahouses Harbour 4 hours (includes 2 hours landing)
Journey by boat past the Farne Islands, where Cuthbert spent many years as a hermit. Landing on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne you will hear about seals and seabirds and learn about life in the monastery.
3.30pm, Holy Island Harbour.
Non-walkers are welcome to enjoy to enjoy the living history presentatation.
Click here for details of parking
and transport.
Charge for TICKET ON BOAT (adult £12 - child £3 - tel: Billy
Shiel on 01665 720316 to book tickets
Wednesday 3rd September, 11.00am
Guided
Walk: Ad Gefrin - Yeavering Bell - Kirknewton
Start at Old Yeavering 6 miles, 4 hours.
Led by members of Berwick Ramblers. The event begins with an introduction
to the 7th century Ad Gefrin site by archaeologist Roger Miket of the Gefrin
Trust. Non walkers are welcome to enjoy this lively short tour.
The first section of the walk is steep, leading to Northumberland's largest
Iron-Age hill-fort on Yeavering Bell. The route becomes easier as it descends
to Kirknewton church, dedicated to St. Gregory the Great (Feast Day 3rd
September).
From 2pm-4pm refreshments will be on sale iin the Village Hall
and a display illustrates aspects of the history of the Kirknewton district.
Click here for
details of parking and transport
FREE walk
Thursday 4th September, 11.45am
Guided
Walk: Cornhill – Twizel - Norham
Start at Collingwood Arms Hotel, Cornhill-on-Tweed 8 miles 5 hours
Celebrate the Feast of St. Cuthbert’s Translation with a walk along
an attractive route beside the River Tweed, past the ruins of the l;ittle
chapel at Twizel, and ending at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Norham, where
you can hear stories about life in the Anglo-Saxon village. Non
walkers are welcome to join the story telling at Norham Church between 4.30pm
and 5.15pm.
Click here for
details of parking and transport.
FREE walk
Friday 5th September, 2.30pm
Themed
Boat Trip to The Farne Islands
Start at Seahouses Harbour 3 hours (includes 1 hour landing)A special themed boat journey to experience the remote attractions of the Farnes, where St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert found peace and solitude. Along the way, in the company of Fr. Adrian Hughes, you will hear about the seals and the sea-birds and learn about the relationship between the Celtic monks and the natural world.
Click here for details of parking and transport.
Charge for TICKET ON BOAT (adult £12 - child £3 - tel: Billy Shiel on 01665 720316 to book tickets)
Saturday 6th September, 10.00am
Guided
Walk: Wooler - St. Cuthbert’s Cave
Start at Wooler Bus Station 9 miles 5 hours
Led by Ron Shaw, ceator of the St. Cuthbert’s Way long-distance footpath,
this walk ends at the cave where it is said St. Cuthbert's body was taken
for safety when Viking raiders forced the monks to abandon Lindisfarne.
Non walkers are welcome to join the group at the Cave to hear the story of St. Cuthbert's journey from Lindisfarne to Durham, presented by "Time Bandits". Meet at 2.30pm at Hepburn Grange Car Park for the short walk to the Cave for the "St. Cuthbert's Journey" story.
Click here
for details of parking and transport.
FREE walk
Sunday 7th September, 2.00pm
Guided
Walk on Holy Island
Start at Holy Island Market Cross 4 miles 2.5 hoursAn easy walk suitable for anyone with reasonable walking abilities to visit sites and hear stories associated with Anglo-Saxon Lindisfarne, presented by "Time Bandits".
Click here for details of parking and transport.
FREE walk
Fri. 12th - Sun. 14th September
Various locations in Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick Food Festival
The event includes displays illustrating the food and drink of the Anglo-Saxon period.Click here for more information about Berwick Food Festival www.slowfoodberwick.org.uk/festival.html
Admission FREE
Saturday 13th September, 9.30am
Guided
Walk - Holy Island – St. Cuthbert’s Cave - Chatton
Start at Holy Island Car Park entrance 16 miles 6.5 hoursCross the Pilgrims’ Causeway from Lindisfarne to Cuthbert’s Cave, then on to Chatton Church.
A sponsored walk organised by Chatton PCC.
Click here for details of parking and transport.
FREE walk
Sunday 14th September, 11.00am-4.00pm
Historic
Churches Trail
Specially-created one-day trail of some of the area’s most attractive and interesting churches. Organised in association with the national Heritage Open Days programme.
Visit the sites on the Trail by car, or book a seat on our special Bus
Tour, which leaves Golden Square, Berwick-upon-Tweed at 9.00am and returns
to Berwick by 5.00pm.
Click here for details of the Historic Churches Trail
£7 charge for seat on the Bus Tour (Children £2) Tel: 01289
330218 by 5pm 11th September to book a seat
OCTOBER
Friday 10th-Sunday 12th October
Contesting
Beliefs
Activities and events exploring religion and spirituality in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
through a mix of drama, debate and displays. Admission FREE
Wednesday 15th October,
7.30pm
The Guildhall, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Golden
Age of Northumbria Lecture
Talk on the early kings of Northumbria given by Anglo-Saxon specialist Colm
O’Brien of Newcastle University.The event is organised jointly by Berwick Civic Society and Berwick History Society as part of their annual programmes of lectures.
Members of the public are very welcome.
Admission charge £2 (FREE to members of Berwick Civic Society or Berwick History Society)
Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th
October (School
parties only)
Saturday 25th
& Sunday 26th October, 11.00am-4.00pm (General
public)
Longridge Towers, Berwick-upon-Tweed
St
Cedd's Family Festival
An opportunity for young people to step back in time to 7th century Northumbria
and experience aspects of everyday life in an Anglo-Saxon settlement.Displays, demonstrations and hands-on activities provided by Longridge Towers, Berwick Borough Museum Service, Bede’s World, Vikingsaga, St. Cuthbert’s Land and others.
Admission FREE
