Healey Public Walk

The walk itself starts properly inland from Newcastle, taking you through some decent countryside that doesn't get nearly enough attention from visitors heading straight for the coast. Healey Public Walk is a straightforward riverside trail - nothing flashy, just solid Northumberland outdoors. You're following the water through woodland and open fields, the kind of place where you'll actually hear birds rather than other tourists.

It's ideal for families who want a gentle couple of hours without steep climbs or tricky navigation. The path is manageable for kids old enough to walk a reasonable distance, though you'll want wellies or good boots if there's been rain - it gets muddy in stretches. Walkers after a proper leg-stretch will find it pleasant enough, though it's not the sort of dramatic fell walk that gets people talking afterwards.

Allow two to three hours depending on your pace and how often you stop. There's no admission fee - it's a public right of way. The best approach is to go when the weather's decent but not peak summer, when the green is proper lush without the midges being unbearable.

If you're basing yourself at Springhouse Boutique Holiday Park or Valley View Camping just down the road, Healey Walk makes a sensible morning outing before heading into Newcastle or exploring further afield. It's not a destination in itself, but it's exactly the sort of local walk that rounds out a proper park holiday rather than feeling like you've missed something.