A tiny Northumberland village, seemingly untouched by the modern world, has been officially recognised as one of the most beautiful places in the United Kingdom. The honour comes from celebrated travel bloggers Jonny and Hannah, founders of the website Finding our Adventure, who have added Blanchland to their prestigious list of must-visit destinations.
A Step Back into a Medieval Fairytale
Nestled within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Blanchland offers visitors an immediate and striking sense of stepping back centuries. The village, founded in 1165, was constructed using stones from the local Blanchland Abbey, and its core appearance has changed remarkably little since. Encircled by dramatic moorland fells and sitting beside the River Derwent, its honey-coloured stone buildings, cobbled streets, and winding lanes create a picture-perfect scene.
A key part of its charm is the complete absence of modern chain stores. This deliberate preservation enhances the sensation of entering a different era, a quality highlighted by local publication Chronicle Live. According to the 2011 parish census, the community is home to just 135 residents, yet it draws tourists from across the country and beyond.
History Etched in Stone and Legend
The village's name is believed to originate from the white-robed ('blanche' in French) French monks of Blanchland Abbey. The abbey's founder, Walter de Bolbec, established the site in 1165. Its history is one of conflict and change; it was visited by Edward III in 1327 during preparations for war with the Scots, and was ultimately dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539.
Later, in 1704, the estate was purchased by Lord Crewe. After his death, it was left to The Lord Crewe Charity Trust, which worked to create a 'model village' for the local mining families, restoring buildings and parts of the abbey church. The old abbey lodge became a manor house, while the gatehouse helped form the village square.
Famous Attractions and Literary Links
Blanchland's modest size belies its significant attractions. Alongside the abbey ruins, visitors find the White Monk Tea Room (in the old schoolhouse), a quaint local shop, and the famed Lord Crewe Arms Hotel. This 12th-century inn is one of Britain's oldest, boasting timber beams, stone walls, and open fires.
The hotel has a storied past: its fireplace reportedly hid General Tom Forster during the 1715 Jacobite uprising. It also hosted literary greats; poet W.H. Auden declared it held his most cherished memories, and it is rumoured Philip Larkin dined there frequently. Furthermore, Blanchland is thought to have inspired the village in Auden and Christopher Isherwood's 1935 play, The Dog Beneath the Skin.
The village's photogenic quality has also made it a screen favourite. It has featured in ITV's Vera and doubled as the fictional Stoneybridge in the TV series Wolfblood, cementing its status as a prime location for period dramas and adding to its enduring, timeless appeal.
