Our Ambition

Our project ambition is nothing less than to transform how people of all ages and all backgrounds experience our great landscape. The building is the result of an innovative partnership between Northumberland National Park and YHA England and Wales.

The Sill is the most significant initiative to be undertaken in rural Northumberland in a lifetime and the largest undertaking by any National Park. Since its inception, the project has captured the hearts and minds of staff, residents and partners.

picnic tables outside of the Sill building
Visitors looking out over Hadrian's Wall from the top of Sill roof.
solar panels on the rood of the sill building
visitors walking around the main exhibition area of The Sill
Interior of The Sill Cafe
Cumbria wildflowers on the grass roof of The Sill

What to expect

  • A free to enter permanent exhibition enabling people to discover landscape, culture and heritage.
  • An 86 bed Youth Hostel.
  • A temporary exhibition programme that will explore key themes of landscape and heritage in greater detail.
  • A 90 seater café that will showcase local produce.
  • A shop stocking local produce, arts and crafts.
  • A rural enterprise hub, housing new and emerging rural businesses.
  • Flexible learning and events spaces.
  • A tourist information centre.
  • A fully accessible Whin Sill grassland roof, the only of its kind in the world.
  • Fully accessible with a Changing Places facility.