Cresswell Beach

The beach at Cresswell is a proper working-class stretch of Northumberland coastline, all dark sand and industrial heritage rather than chocolate-box seaside charm. You've got the old colliery ruins dotted about - remnants of the mining that shaped this bit of the north - and the beach itself is good for a long walk without the crowds you'd find down south. The sand is firm enough to stride across, and on a clear day you can see right along the coast towards Newbiggin.

Walkers will get the most from it. Families with young children might find it a bit exposed and windswept, unless they're the hardy sort who don't mind cold air and rain. There's something rather honest about it though - this is a working beach, not a postcard. The village of Cresswell sits just inland from Morpeth, so you're well-positioned to explore the broader area without feeling like you're on a tourist trail.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Parkdean Resorts Cresswell Towers is practically on the doorstep, or Golden Sands if you want something with better reviews - this is a natural morning walk. Allow a couple of hours to get the best of it. There's no entrance fee and no faffing about with facilities; just turn up and go. It works well as part of a coastal loop, particularly if you're combining it with inland Northumberland walks or heading further north to Druridge Bay. Not spectacular, but genuine.