Percy's Corss

The cross itself sits rather unexpectedly beside the road near Alnwick, a weathered stone monument that marks where the Earl of Northumberland was killed in 1408. It's not dramatic - no grand structure, no visitor centre, just a solitary standing stone that's survived over six centuries of Northumbrian weather. That's rather the point, actually.

Histor enthusiasts will get the most from this one. It's a genuine waypoint in the region's feudal past, connected to the Battle of Homildon Hill and the complex power struggles of medieval northern England. If you're the sort who walks old battlefields and reads placards in churchyards, you'll find it worthwhile. Casual visitors might spend ten minutes photographing it and moving on - there's no infrastructure, no interpretation, which some find refreshing and others find frustrating.

The location works well if you're based at River Breamish Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just a mile and a half away. It's a straightforward detour on a walk around the Alnwick area, the kind of thing you'd add to a route rather than travel specifically to see. Free to visit, obviously, and you can turn up whenever suits you.

Worth a stop if you're already nearby exploring the wider Northumberland countryside. Don't expect crowds, facilities, or any modern tourism apparatus. What you get is a honest piece of local history, quietly standing where it's stood for 600 years.