Northumberland is fortunate in the number of rivers which, owing to the position of the Cheviot Hills, flow right across the county from west to east.  These Northumbrian streams have a distinct character of their own, and are of a different breed from those of the southern; counties.  They are neither mountain torrents nor placid leisurely rivers, such as are met elsewhere in Britain, but busy, bright, joyous, and sparkling, never sluggish, never silent, even when deep and full, as is the Tyne in its lower reaches.  With the Tyne and its tributary streams we have already travelled; but there are others yet awaiting us, claiming our attention sometimes for the romantic scenery through which they run their bright course, sometimes for the historic sites they pass on their way, sometimes for both reasons.  Wansbeck, Coquet, Aln, or Till—­each has its own interest, as has also the Tweed in that score or so of miles along which it can he spoken of in connection with Northumberland.

The source of the Wansbeck, the only “beck” the county possesses, is amongst the “Wild Hills o’ Wannys” (Wanny’s beck) a group of picturesque sandstone crags which surround Sweethope Lough, a sheet of water which covers 180 acres.  The scenery of this upper course of the Wansbeck is very striking, from the Lough to Kirkwhelpington, flowing between bleak moorland and rich pasture, and on to Littleharle Tower, which stands secluded in deep woods.

Another mansion near at hand, and most picturesquely situated, is Wallington Hall, lying a short distance away on the north bank of the Wansbeck.  It is one of the most notable country houses in Northumberland, and especially so on account of its unique picture-gallery, roofed with dull glass, and containing several series of pictures connected with Northumbrian history.  One of these is a series of frescoes by William Bell Scott, whose name was for so many years associated with all that was best in art in Newcastle, and whose picture of the “Building of the Castle” may be seen at the head of the staircase in the Lit. and Phil. building.  His pictures at Wallington are:—­1.  The Building of the Roman Wall. 2.  The visit of King Egfrid and Bishop Trumwine to St. Cuthbert on Fame. 3.  A Descent of the Danes. 4.  Death of the Venerable Bede. 5.  The Charlton Spur. 6.  Bernard Gilpin taking down a challenge glove in Rothbury Church. 7.  Grace Darling and her father on the way to the wreck. 8.  The Nineteenth Century—­showing the High Level Bridge, the Quayside, an Armstrong gun, etc., etc.  Another series consists of medallions and portraits of famous men connected with Northumbrian events, from Hadrian and Severus down to George Stephenson and others of modern times; while yet another depicts all the incidents of “Chevy Chase.”

Some miles further eastward, the Wansbeck receives the Hart Burn—­which, by the way, is larger than the parent stream at this point—­and, a little later, the Font.  The lovely little village of Mitford, once important enough to overshadow the Morpeth of that day, lies at the junction of Font and Wansbeck.  The Mitfords of Mitford can boast, if ever family could, of being Northumbrian of the Northumbrians, as they were seated here before the days of the Conqueror, who made such a general upsetting amongst the Saxon landowners.