The best cycling routes around Nicholforest

St. Cuthbert’s Church in Kirklinton is a characterful village church in north Cumbria, built in 1845 on the site of an older medieval church. The building is constructed of red sandstone with a three-story west tower, featuring battlements, pointed-arch windows, and a 12th-century Norman chancel arch. Inside, you'll find a mix of medieval elements and Victorian details: a vaulted oak roof, stained-glass windows with heraldic motifs from the Dacre-Appleby family, and an Art Nouveau oil lamp set from the Keswick School of Industrial Art. The church also contains funerary monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries, including three aedicules for members of the Appleby family.

Located just north of Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders, Old Castleton Cemetery bears witness to centuries of local history. Situated on a hill along the B6357, this cemetery offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. It contains over 670 memorials, many of which have been photographed and recorded on Find a Grave. The site also contains three Commonwealth war graves from the Second World War, further enhancing its historical significance. The site is popular with genealogical researchers and walkers who want to explore Liddesdale's heritage.

Kielder Castle is a charming 18th-century hunting lodge in Northumberland, built in 1775 for the Duke of Northumberland. Today, it serves as a vibrant visitor center and the starting point for numerous walking and cycling routes, including the famous Lakeside Way. Although the castle is currently undergoing renovations, the information center remains open and the surrounding facilities are accessible. It's an ideal base for exploring England's largest forest. It houses the Kielder Visitor Center and the Cafe at the Castle.

The Kershope Burn is a quiet stream that forms the border between England and Scotland for its entire length. It rises as Clark's Sike in the marshy Hobb's Flow in Kielder Forest, flows past Kershopehead farm, and empties into Liddel Water at Kershopefoot. The burn is a natural boundary, used for centuries as a divide between kingdoms.

Saint NICHOLAS, Bishop of Myra, to whom this church is dedicated, is – alongside Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours in France – one of the most popular saints of all. His memorial day in the calendar of saints, December 6th, is probably known to almost every child. On the eve of this day, children used to put their shoes or boots – which had of course been carefully polished – in front of the door so that Saint Nicholas could fill them with gifts during the night. In more agricultural areas, it was also customary for children to put out a small gift of food for the donkey, Saint Nicholas's mount (according to another tradition, it was a white horse).

This interesting open cemetery contains a mix of old and new headstones - some very ostentatious. The older headstones are from the late 18th century, and many of them are in poor condition.

Dedicated to the poet Hugh MacDiarmid, this is an eye-catching sculpture of a giant metal open book overlooking the town of Langholm, the poet’s birthplace.

This is a lovely viewpoint of Langholm moor, just north of Newcastleton. There’s a bench to admire the views from, making it an excellent picnic spot.