Football Hole Beach

The name alone makes you smile - Football Hole Beach is exactly what it sounds like. This stretch of Northumberland coastline near Alnwick got its quirky moniker from a deep, natural bowl in the rocks that locals have always used as a football pitch at low tide. It's a proper working beach, all golden sand and dramatic cliffs, without the twee seaside resort feel you get further south.

What you're really here for is the geology and the space. The rocks tell the story - sandstone cliffs towering above, rock pools brimming with starfish and anemones if you time the tide right, and that famous depression in the stone where generations have kicked a ball about. It's the sort of place that makes you understand why people settle in the North East and never leave.

Families with older kids will find enough to occupy a good few hours: scrambling on rocks, searching pools, maybe actually playing football if you're inclined. Walkers on the Northumberland coastal path use it as a landmark. The history types will appreciate the natural amphitheatre itself - no human construction needed.

It's free, obviously. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're doing the rock pools properly; add time if you're walking further along the coast. Best visited two hours either side of low tide. The nearby caravan parks - Northumberland Coast Camp is your strongest option at 3.4 miles - make ideal bases for exploring this stretch. It's worth the small detour from Alnwick if you're staying locally.