Inner Farne Lighthouse

You'll need a boat to reach this one. The Inner Farne Lighthouse sits on a rocky island just offshore from Seahouses, and it's genuinely worth the trip if you're staying in any of the caravan parks dotted along this stretch of Northumberland coast.

The lighthouse itself is a proper Victorian structure, red and white striped, rising from bare rock. When you land on the island (weather permitting - this isn't a summer guarantee), you get to wander around the keepers' cottages and climb up inside if access allows. The light still works, and there's something oddly moving about standing in a space where someone lived out their days tending to ships passing in the night.

Historically minded types will get the most from this. It's about maritime safety, about the Scottish border waters being properly treacherous, about solitary lives on small islands. Kids might enjoy the boat journey and scrambling over rocks, though they'll tire of the climb quickly.

The boat trip from Seahouses harbour takes roughly 20 minutes each way, and you'll want a couple of hours on the island itself. Check conditions before you go - rough seas mean cancellations. It's not free, and prices vary by operator, but it's standard British seaside excursion money.

Stay at any of the nearby parks - Seafield, Clifftop & Stone Close, or push to Bamburgh Under Canvas - and you've got a proper coastal break with Lindisfarne priory nearby and miles of golden sand.