Embleton Bay

The ruined castle dominates Embleton Bay like a broken tooth against the Northumberland sky. What you're actually looking at is Dunstanburgh Castle, perched on a rocky headland that juts into the North Sea, and it's one of those places that stops you dead when you round the corner. The walk from Embleton village down to the beach takes about twenty minutes through dunes and rough grass, and honestly, it's worth every step.

Once you're there, you've got proper dramatic scenery - high cliffs, a wide sandy beach, and the castle ruins dominating everything from above. The fortress itself dates back to 1313, built by the Earl of Lancaster, though these days it's just walls and towers. You can scramble up to them if you're willing to pay the English Heritage fee (worth it for the views alone), or simply walk around the base and soak in the atmosphere from beach level.

This works brilliantly for walkers and photographers. Kids get a kick out of clambering over rocks and exploring, though under-eights might find the walk a bit much. The beach itself is quiet, which is refreshing - you won't fight crowds here like you do at Whitley Bay. Timing matters: come at low tide when the sand opens up, or aim for late afternoon when light hits the castle properly.

Stay at Northumberland Coast Camp just up the road and you've got the whole stretch to explore. Alnwick sits inland about seven miles, so you can mix castle ruins with the Percy estate if you're into that sort of thing.