Forts

The Roman forts that dot this stretch of Northumberland are properly impressive if you know what you're looking at. Walking the line of Hadrian's Wall and spotting the remains of auxiliary forts - Chesters, Housesteads, Vindolanda - gives you a real sense of how the Romans controlled the frontier. You won't find much standing above knee height at most sites, but the scale of the earthworks tells the story: these were serious military installations, built to house hundreds of soldiers watching over restless northern tribes.

History buffs and wall-walkers will get the most from these. Families with younger kids might find it a bit abstract - stone foundations don't grab attention the way a castle tower does - but older children doing school projects on Roman Britain will find plenty to photograph and measure. The best approach is to combine a fort visit with a stretch of the wall itself. Housesteads offers the most dramatic hilltop views, while Chesters sits beside the North Tyne with quieter charm.

You can pick and choose which forts to visit depending on your route. Most are free to wander or have a small entry fee if there's a visitor centre attached. Allow an hour or two per site if you're reading the information boards and exploring properly. Base yourself at Middlemoor Farm Holidays, just over five miles from Alnwick, and you're well-positioned to tackle several forts across a few days. Early morning visits beat the tour groups, and the light's better for photography then.