The varied scenery of Northumberland is the result of explosive volcanoes, lava, huge seas and rivers, ice and - to a lesser extent - people. This lavishly illustrated book not only reveals some very attractive landscapes but also shows which rock formations lie beneath to give them their shapes. People who chose to live there from thousands of years ago used the rivers, plains and hills to their own advantage, leaving traces of their exploitation of its resources and settlement of the land. The process continues. Enough examples are taken from Northumberland to show how the volcanic Cheviot Hills, lesser hills, sandstone scarps and crags, river valleys and plains account for the variety of scenery that attracts so many people to the countryside. Away from the more industrialised south-east and small towns there are vast open spaces, solitude and beauty that are a delight to explore, seen from the ground and the air. The author uses his extensive knowledge of the county to awaken the readers' interests and to add to their awareness of this special part of England.