Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Castle sits on a tidal island off the Northumberland coast, about four miles from Belford, and you'll need decent planning to make the most of it. The fortress itself is a squat, brick-built affair from the 1550s - not dramatically imposing, but it's the setting that makes it. You cross the causeway at low tide on foot, which takes about fifteen minutes, and suddenly you're genuinely isolated. The castle opens to visitors during the summer months and charges an entry fee through the National Trust (yes, it's theirs now), and you'll want to allow a good two hours minimum - one to get across, one to explore the small interior and the walls.

The views across the North Sea are proper bracing. On a clear day you can see the Fame Islands sprawling offshore, and the whole thing feels windswept and real rather than theme-parked. Families with older kids enjoy it more than the very young - there's nothing to do if you get bored, nowhere to shelter if the weather turns, and the causeway walk gets tedious for anyone under eight.

History types will find the military engineering satisfying but brief. It's not Fort Poplar; you're here for the experience of remoteness more than hours of interpretation.

Since you're probably camping at Budle Farm or Barn at Beal - both within spitting distance - combine Lindisfarne with Bamburgh Castle just down the coast. That's a proper day out. Time your visit for low tide (the village posts times), bring a waterproof, and don't expect the castle to be open in winter.