Pictures of Bolam

About Bolam

This is an historic village, it took its name from a Baron de Bolam in the 13th century. Over the centuries the fortunes of the village have fluctuated, it has been both a bustling little place, and later became a village in decline. Today it is a place for pleasure with attractive stone properties and several places for enjoyment.

The main attraction here, apart from the mainly Norman church of St.Andrew which has an Anglo-Saxon tower with triangular belfry windows, and which was bombed by German aircraft during World War II, is Bolam Lake, designed by John Dobson.

The lake provides visitors with a relaxing beauty spot. It is a haven for wildlife, with a great variety of waterfowl, birds, trees and flowering shrubs to be enjoyed on a walk around it, or in the dense surrounding woodland. The lake offers facilities for fishing, pleasant picnic areas, a tea-room and a gift shop. In all Bolam Lake country park occupies close on a hundred acres of stunningly beautiful scenery, with trees that are a riot of changing colour, particularly in autumn.

Interestingly, there are rumours of a huge yeti wondering in the woods surrounding the lake. He is reputed to have glowing eyes and large white teeth, but as yet these rumours remain unconfirmed and have not deterred the constant flow of visitors who enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the region.

Bolam is set in glorious open countryside with attractive rural views all around. The views from St.Andrew's churchyard are particularly joyous, these take in the wide sweep of the dramatic Simonside Hills.

This is a noted area for walkers, it has Hadrian's Wall and the daunting Pennine Way close-by, beyond these there is the magnificent Border Forest Park and the Northumberland National Park, thus visitors to the area find no shortage of things to do.