Druridge Bay Country Park

The coast here pulls you in before you've even parked up. Druridge Bay Country Park spreads across dunes, grassland, and a proper working lake - all of it free to wander, which feels like a small miracle these days. You get two miles of beach access, woodland trails that don't take themselves too seriously, and a lake that's genuinely good for spotting wildfowl if you're into that sort of thing.

It's the kind of place where families with young kids will burn off energy for hours without dropping a fortune. The sandy beach is safe and wide, the paths are flat enough for pushchairs, and there's something about a nature reserve that makes even reluctant walkers get on board. Serious birdwatchers make the pilgrimage here too - the lake draws migrating species, particularly in spring and autumn. Bring binoculars and patience.

The park sits just outside Morpeth, making it a natural stop if you're staying at any of the holiday parks dotted nearby - Parkdean Resorts Cresswell Towers is barely four miles away, and Golden Sands is on your doorstep. It's the kind of place you might stumble into for an hour and end up staying half the day. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper explore, less if you're just after a beach walk and a clear head.

Weather permitting, go when it's not school holidays unless you're after a crowd. The dunes shift constantly, which keeps it interesting on repeat visits. Not flashy, not Instagram-friendly - just honest coastal landscape that reminds you why people live in the North East.