The outstanding natural beauty and distinctive geology of the county, and its rich archaeology and history, are seen through a series of case studies. When layers of time are peeled from these special places, the result is a microcosm of the county, captured in prose and poetry, photographs from the air and ground, and paintings and drawings by his friends. There are famous sites that delight visitors: Berwick, Holy Island, Hadrian's Wall and the Cheviots. There are also lesser known places such as Old Berwick and Edlingham where Stan Beckensall has made significant discoveries and others like Ford and Etal, which have a particular significance on the author. Another dimension is his work on the significance of place names and field names. Northumberland: A Celebration is written from the heart as wellbeing firmly rooted in original research for the author's extensive experience as a teacher, lecturer and dramatist has given him a unique insight into people's lives in both town and country areas.