Hulne Abbey

Hulne Abbey or Priory is situated in Hulne Park. The photos are all taken by Alison on the tablet the afternoon I monopolised the camera at Alnwick Garden. She was so taken by the ruins of the Abbey when we found it on our run through the park, that she wanted to go back and take more time to explore the site. As before, the place was deserted.

It was the Carmelite Friars who founded the priory in the 13th Century, thinking that the top of Brizlee Hill felt a little like Mount Carmel. It is the best preserved of all Carmelite settlements in the country as well as being the earliest.

In 1488, Henry, the 4th Earl of Northumberland built the tower in memory of his wife Maud. The remains of the priory and Hulne Park still belong to the Duke of Northumberland and the Percy family under the auspices of Northumberland Estates.

HULNE PARK

Hulne Park is not advertised as a tourist attraction. It has no visitor facilities. I only found it when searching for a run. Alnwick Harriers have details about access on their website. The park has well made roads or tracks and when we ran there, we hardly saw a soul.

The route along the river is beautiful. I only found later that it has a hydro electric scheme that was in operation until 1948 and has recently been restored. Hulne Park is like a secret that nobody wants to share. All credit to Northumberland Estates for allowing access to this private land.