Padon Hill

You'll find Padon Hill about an hour's drive north of Newcastle, rising up from the Northumberland countryside like a proper crown jewel for Iron Age history buffs. It's a fort site - one of those ancient settlements that makes you squint at the ramparts and try to imagine what life looked like two thousand years ago. The hill itself offers decent views across the landscape, which is reason enough to make the climb even if archaeology isn't your thing.

Walking groups will get the most from this one. It's not a manicured visitor centre with a cafe - you're out in proper countryside, picking your way up hillside paths and reading the landscape itself. Bring binoculars if you're keen on spotting earthworks and defensive ditches. The site works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots like GlamPods Northumberland or Wild Northumbrian Tipis, both within a few miles. It's the sort of half-day excursion that fills the gap between breakfast and a proper dinner back at camp.

Allow two hours if you're taking it seriously, less if you just fancy the views and a quick wander. There's no visitor infrastructure that I can find, so come prepared - pack water, wear decent boots, and check the weather. Historians will appreciate the chance to see how the fort relates to the wider Roman and pre-Roman settlement patterns across Northumberland. For families with younger kids, it might feel a bit too open and featureless - they'll get restless without something tangible to clamber over.