Northumberland has come out on top as being the best location for finding peace and quiet in England.

According to research by holiday letting agency Cottages in Northumberland, the county is also the second best place to find peace and quiet in the whole of the UK.

Powys in Wales was found to be the best place in the UK.

Northumberland is home to the Northumberland National Park, one Dark Sky Orion site and 22 Dark Sky Milky Way sites, more than anywhere else in the UK.

The Travel Chapter identified the most peaceful places by breaking down the counties, council districts and regions throughout the UK and gathering data on population count per square kilometre, as well as information on natural sanctuaries such as national parks, and Dark Sky parks and sites.

The county is the 16th emptiest place in the UK, with a low population density of 64 people per square kilometre.

‘Staycations’ became increasingly popular last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, with people deciding to explore the beauty that this country has to offer.

Popular tourist destinations in Northumberland include Hadrian’s Wall, Kielder Water and Forest Park, and Hexham Abbey.

The Travel Chapter’s research listed North Yorkshire as the second best place for peace and quiet in England, followed by Cumbria in third position, Devon in fourth, and Norfolk in fifth.

For the whole of the UK, the top five was made up of the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, and Muray, all in Scotland.

To see the full list, visit https://www.cottagesinnorthumberland.co.uk/guides/peace-and-quiet-uk