NORTH-EAST ENGLAND
Wild landscapes, desolate beaches, magical offshore islands, castles, a Roman wall, an angel, industry, historic cities and great cathedrals all define the awesome North-east. Its great variety makes this an area you can dip into time and again, and always discover something new. Explore the bleak beauty of Northumberland National Park, where its dark sky will sometimes host the aurora borealis. The expansive Cheviot Hills, crossed by the ancient routes of cattle drovers, is a wonderful place for walkers and cyclists, as is Kielder Water and Forest. The wild Northumberland coast, crowned Holiday Destination of the Year 2017 in the BBC’S Countryfile Magazine awards, offers 30 miles of beaches, seaside resorts such as Seahouses, splendid castles, island nature reserves and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The cities in this region are vibrant, busy places of monumental architecture: visit Newcastle, where the regeneration of the quayside has created a cultural hub; Sunderland for the National Glass Centre and St Peter’s Church, once home to the Venerable Bede and said to be the birthplace of modern Christianity; and Durham for its castle, cathedral and World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.
Peaks and dales
To the west are the North Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a UNESCO Global Geopark (www.northpennines.org.uk). This is an area rich in wildlife and industrial heritage. Farther south, you will find the limestone crags and pavements of the Yorkshire Dales, crisscrossed by dry stone walls and punctuated by stone-built villages. Here walkers can tackle the three peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside (visit www.yorkshiredales.org.uk to find out more about the walks). To the east is the North York Moors National Park (www.northyorkmoors.org.uk), where the vast heather moorland meets the North Sea. On the coast you’ll find Staithes, with its randomly organised cottages and connections to Captain Cook; Whitby, where you can visit the Abbey that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula and shop for jet jewellery; and Scarborough, for its castle, cliffs and beaches. Farther south is Harrogate, with its Victorian Turkish Baths and Bettys Tearooms, and the medieval city of York, with its fine Minster, castle and great shopping.
■ Turn to p31 of the Top 100 guide for site info