Holystone

Settlement in Northumberland

England

Holystone

Alpacas grazing at Wood Hall farm They seem happy here!
Alpacas grazing at Wood Hall farm Credit: Russel Wills

Holystone is a small village located in the county of Northumberland, in the northeast of England. Situated in the picturesque Coquet Valley, it lies within the Northumberland National Park, offering residents and visitors breathtaking natural beauty and a tranquil atmosphere.

The village is nestled between rolling hills and dense forests, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Walking trails and cycling paths crisscross the surrounding countryside, providing opportunities to explore the stunning landscapes that Northumberland is renowned for. The nearby Simonside Hills offer panoramic views of the area, while the River Coquet, which flows through the village, provides a peaceful setting for fishing and relaxation.

Holystone itself is a quintessential English village, with charming stone cottages and a close-knit community. The village is home to a few amenities, including a village hall, a small church, and a traditional pub serving locally sourced food and drink.

History is also an important aspect of Holystone. The village is known for its ancient stone circle, believed to be over 4,000 years old, which adds to the area's mystical appeal. Additionally, remnants of a 12th-century medieval chapel can be found nearby, further highlighting the village's rich heritage.

Overall, Holystone offers a peaceful and idyllic retreat for those seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life, with its natural beauty, friendly community, and historical significance making it a truly enchanting destination in Northumberland.

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Holystone Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.318473/-2.073081 or Grid Reference NT9502. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Alpacas grazing at Wood Hall farm They seem happy here!
Alpacas grazing at Wood Hall farm
They seem happy here!
A hembra and a cria (Mum and baby alpaca) In a paddock near Sharperton on the River Coquet.
A hembra and a cria (Mum and baby alpaca)
In a paddock near Sharperton on the River Coquet.
Road sign casualty of Storm Arwen But the post looks pretty rusty too!
Alpacas over the fence.
Road sign casualty of Storm Arwen
But the post looks pretty rusty too! Alpacas over the fence.
Hope the picnic tables are alright The car park and picnic area at the entrance to Holystone Woods forest trails are unrecognisable.  This area contained some massive pines.  Storm Arwen flattened it despite its location down in the valley.
Hope the picnic tables are alright
The car park and picnic area at the entrance to Holystone Woods forest trails are unrecognisable. This area contained some massive pines. Storm Arwen flattened it despite its location down in the valley.
Storm Arwen near Holystone Everywhere one goes in mid and north Northumberland one sees the consequences of Storm Arwen's ferocity in swathes of fallen trees. On November 26th 2021 the storm is estimated to have damaged 16 million trees: the Great Storm of 1987 destroyed 15 million trees.
Storm Arwen near Holystone
Everywhere one goes in mid and north Northumberland one sees the consequences of Storm Arwen's ferocity in swathes of fallen trees. On November 26th 2021 the storm is estimated to have damaged 16 million trees: the Great Storm of 1987 destroyed 15 million trees.
Storm Arwen damage at the Lady's Well Fortunately this huge tree fell out of the enclosure rather than into it.
Storm Arwen damage at the Lady's Well
Fortunately this huge tree fell out of the enclosure rather than into it.
Storm Arwen damage at the Lady's Well Fortunately this huge tree fell out of the enclosure rather than into it.
Storm Arwen damage at the Lady's Well
Fortunately this huge tree fell out of the enclosure rather than into it.
Storm Arwen damage near the Lady's Well Everywhere one goes in mid and north Northumberland one sees the consequences of Storm Arwen's ferocity in swathes of fallen trees. On November 26th 2021 the storm is estimated to have damaged 16 million trees: the Great Storm of 1987 destroyed 15 million trees.
Storm Arwen damage near the Lady's Well
Everywhere one goes in mid and north Northumberland one sees the consequences of Storm Arwen's ferocity in swathes of fallen trees. On November 26th 2021 the storm is estimated to have damaged 16 million trees: the Great Storm of 1987 destroyed 15 million trees.
Waterfall at Rob Roy's Cave The cave is immediately to the left of this photo. The Dovecrag Burn boasts a number of small waterfalls though, as here, it rarely carries much water. The deep, narrow gorge is littered with fallen and decayed tree limbs which have become permanently trapped, rendering access difficult.
Waterfall at Rob Roy's Cave
The cave is immediately to the left of this photo. The Dovecrag Burn boasts a number of small waterfalls though, as here, it rarely carries much water. The deep, narrow gorge is littered with fallen and decayed tree limbs which have become permanently trapped, rendering access difficult.
Cascade on the Dovecrag Burn The Dovecrag Burn boasts a number of small waterfalls though, as here, it rarely carries much water. The deep, narrow gorge is littered with fallen and decayed tree limbs which have become permanently trapped, rendering access difficult.
Cascade on the Dovecrag Burn
The Dovecrag Burn boasts a number of small waterfalls though, as here, it rarely carries much water. The deep, narrow gorge is littered with fallen and decayed tree limbs which have become permanently trapped, rendering access difficult.
Waterfalls on the Dovecrag Burn Just upstream of Rob Roy's Cave. The Dovecrag Burn boasts a number of small waterfalls though, as here, it rarely carries much water.
Waterfalls on the Dovecrag Burn
Just upstream of Rob Roy's Cave. The Dovecrag Burn boasts a number of small waterfalls though, as here, it rarely carries much water.
Storm Arwen brought down many trees  Some of the trees are being 'recycled' as firewood!
Storm Arwen brought down many trees
Some of the trees are being 'recycled' as firewood!
Salmon House once The Salmon Inn Sadly like many country pubs and the disease is spreading urban areas with so many watering holes closing.
Salmon House once The Salmon Inn
Sadly like many country pubs and the disease is spreading urban areas with so many watering holes closing.
Ford through Unnamed Burn I think this might be a drainage ditch rather than a burn.
Ford through Unnamed Burn
I think this might be a drainage ditch rather than a burn.
Lady's Well, Holystone Lady's Well is a stone water tank of possible Roman date, fed by a natural spring. The well is alongside the Roman road between High Rochester and the River Aln. The stone tank has been completely rebuilt at least once since the Roman period. The well has been a Christian holy site since the medieval period, and may have been the site of early Christian rituals. An alternative name for the well is 'Ninian's Well'. Ninian was the Bishop of Whithorn, in south-west Scotland, from AD500-550. It is possible that Ninian visited Holystone, although we have no evidence for such a visit. There is a legend that Paulinus, an early Christian missionary from Italy, converted 3000 people at the well during Easter AD627. In the medieval period, there was an Augustinian convent at Holystone, which may be where the name 'Lady's Well' comes from. In addition to the tank, a 15th century statue, said to be of Paulinus, was brought to the site from Alnwick in 1780. The statue was moved from the centre of the tank in the 19th century and replaced with a wheel cross. Local tradition says an altar-shaped stone near the well is the 'holy' stone, which gives the local village its name. The Lady's Well is a Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Building protected by law.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://keystothepast.info/search-records/results-of-search/results-of-search-2/site-details/?PRN=N1209" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://keystothepast.info/search-records/results-of-search/results-of-search-2/site-details/?PRN=N1209">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Lady's Well, Holystone
Lady's Well is a stone water tank of possible Roman date, fed by a natural spring. The well is alongside the Roman road between High Rochester and the River Aln. The stone tank has been completely rebuilt at least once since the Roman period. The well has been a Christian holy site since the medieval period, and may have been the site of early Christian rituals. An alternative name for the well is 'Ninian's Well'. Ninian was the Bishop of Whithorn, in south-west Scotland, from AD500-550. It is possible that Ninian visited Holystone, although we have no evidence for such a visit. There is a legend that Paulinus, an early Christian missionary from Italy, converted 3000 people at the well during Easter AD627. In the medieval period, there was an Augustinian convent at Holystone, which may be where the name 'Lady's Well' comes from. In addition to the tank, a 15th century statue, said to be of Paulinus, was brought to the site from Alnwick in 1780. The statue was moved from the centre of the tank in the 19th century and replaced with a wheel cross. Local tradition says an altar-shaped stone near the well is the 'holy' stone, which gives the local village its name. The Lady's Well is a Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Building protected by law. LinkExternal link
Lady's Well, Holystone Lady's Well is a stone water tank of possible Roman date, fed by a natural spring. The well is alongside the Roman road between High Rochester and the River Aln. The stone tank has been completely rebuilt at least once since the Roman period. The well has been a Christian holy site since the medieval period, and may have been the site of early Christian rituals. An alternative name for the well is 'Ninian's Well'. Ninian was the Bishop of Whithorn, in south-west Scotland, from AD500-550. It is possible that Ninian visited Holystone, although we have no evidence for such a visit. There is a legend that Paulinus, an early Christian missionary from Italy, converted 3000 people at the well during Easter AD627. In the medieval period, there was an Augustinian convent at Holystone, which may be where the name 'Lady's Well' comes from. In addition to the tank, a 15th century statue, said to be of Paulinus, was brought to the site from Alnwick in 1780. The statue was moved from the centre of the tank in the 19th century and replaced with a wheel cross. Local tradition says an altar-shaped stone near the well is the 'holy' stone, which gives the local village its name. The Lady's Well is a Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Building protected by law.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://keystothepast.info/search-records/results-of-search/results-of-search-2/site-details/?PRN=N1209" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://keystothepast.info/search-records/results-of-search/results-of-search-2/site-details/?PRN=N1209">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Lady's Well, Holystone
Lady's Well is a stone water tank of possible Roman date, fed by a natural spring. The well is alongside the Roman road between High Rochester and the River Aln. The stone tank has been completely rebuilt at least once since the Roman period. The well has been a Christian holy site since the medieval period, and may have been the site of early Christian rituals. An alternative name for the well is 'Ninian's Well'. Ninian was the Bishop of Whithorn, in south-west Scotland, from AD500-550. It is possible that Ninian visited Holystone, although we have no evidence for such a visit. There is a legend that Paulinus, an early Christian missionary from Italy, converted 3000 people at the well during Easter AD627. In the medieval period, there was an Augustinian convent at Holystone, which may be where the name 'Lady's Well' comes from. In addition to the tank, a 15th century statue, said to be of Paulinus, was brought to the site from Alnwick in 1780. The statue was moved from the centre of the tank in the 19th century and replaced with a wheel cross. Local tradition says an altar-shaped stone near the well is the 'holy' stone, which gives the local village its name. The Lady's Well is a Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Building protected by law. LinkExternal link
Lady's Well, Holystone --- CLOSED Due to Storm Arwen damage.
Lady's Well, Holystone --- CLOSED
Due to Storm Arwen damage.
The Church of St Mary The Virgin, Holystone
The Church of St Mary The Virgin, Holystone
Show me another place!

Holystone is located at Grid Ref: NT9502 (Lat: 55.318473, Lng: -2.073081)

Unitary Authority: Northumberland

Police Authority: Northumbria

What 3 Words

///rigs.snored.odds. Near Rothbury, Northumberland

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 55.318473,-2.073081
Holystone
Place: hamlet
Wikidata: Q11710013
Wikipedia: en:Holystone, Northumberland
Lat/Long: 55.3181496/-2.0719374
Post Box
Ref: NE65 86
Lat/Long: 55.3182668/-2.0732959
Post Office
Holystone Village Post Office
Lat/Long: 55.3182226/-2.0733595
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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