Holystone Between Landscape and History

Holystone connects access to the open countryside north of the village with historical themes from different periods. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay here, you can plan around two interests: time outdoors or insights into local history. Nearby Rising Sun Country Park is known for its extensive network of paths; Holystone War Memorial and the historic Holystone Old Wagonway offer different historical perspectives.

Landscape and Paths

Holystone has access to the open countryside north of the village and to Rising Sun Country Park. Near the village, the park offers an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways for walkers, cyclists and riders. Some paths are accessible to people with disabilities; this applies to part of the network. If accessibility is important to your plans, check the latest access information before your visit. Entry to the park is free; current park information can help you plan your visit.

A completed shared cycle and pedestrian path connects West Allotment with Holystone Interchange. The improvement was completed in 2017. This distinguishes it from the park’s path network: here, the focus is on two named destinations and a shared connection, while the park offers an extensive network of different path types for various user groups. For your planning, the difference is between a specific connection and an area with multiple paths.

If a playground is relevant to your travel plans, Stonelea is a specific local reference: the playground is at Holystone Grange in Holystone, NE27 0UX.

Local History and Historical Connections

Holystone War Memorial is on Benton Road in Holystone. It is a Grade II listed war memorial dating from around 1919. The historic Holystone Old Wagonway, a former mineral railway, offers a much earlier historical perspective. It is marked “Old” on the first edition Ordnance Survey map; it was probably no longer in use before 1858. A former mineral railway and a later-dated war memorial thus represent different themes in local history.

Holystone Farm and buildings in the area around Holystone House are shown on Greenwood's Plan of Northumberland from 1828 and on the first edition Ordnance Survey map from 1858. The two map dates are three decades apart, providing two specific points in time for looking at the area’s earlier history. In this timeline, the maps contrast with the wagonway, probably no longer in use before 1858, and the memorial from around 1919.

A shelter hut still stands at Holystone Searchlight Battery.

Discover more destinations: Whickham, New Herrington, North Shields, East Boldon, Washington, Hebburn, Seaton Burn.

For the main travel overview: Tyne And Wear.