Tales from Northumberland

Episode 2 (1x2)

: 04, 2013

The second episode of the series takes Robson well off the beaten track, where he learns what it’s like to live in the most remote part of England. Stretching from the Scot’s border to Hadrian’s Wall, the Northumberland national park is the most sparsely populated area of England. Despite covering four hundred square miles, only two thousand people live here. That’s just five people per square mile. Robson hikes through miles of empty moorland to Wark Forest in search of a bed for the night. Robson sets up camp in a bothy, a ramshackle farmhouse used as refuge huts for walkers. With no power, running water or even a toilet, Robson says, “This really is back to basics.” When the camera crew go home, the prospect of spending a night in the wilderness starts to hit home for Robson. Whilst he didn’t get the best night’s sleep, Robson did experience the Northumberland night sky. Robson says, “Seeing stars like this… I won’t forget this in a hurry. Truly amazing.” The next day, a bleary-eyed Robson admits that he hasn’t slept a wink, saying: “What a nightmare, how do I get myself in these situations?!” To get a sense of what life is like for people who live in the area, Robson meets a young woman who has taken on the challenge of running one of the most remote farms in England. Emma Grey, the 23-year-old shepherdess, says: “Northumberland is remote enough as it is, but this farm is about as remote as you can find. Some people think it’s wonderful and it’s a fantastic way of life and it’s a great place to live. Other people think I’m stark raving bonkers.” Finally, Robson visits Kielder Observatory, which gives visitors the opportunity to witness incredible sights such as Saturn and the northern lights. The observatory is a labour of love for bricklayer turned astronomer Gary Fildes, who shows Robson exactly why he’s so passionate about the night sky. As they take a look at a globular