Planetrees Roman Wall

You're standing in front of a section of Hadrian's Wall that actually looks like something Romans built, not just grass and rubble. Planetrees, a few miles west of Hexham, preserves one of the wall's best-maintained stretches - nearly two metres high in places, with the facing stones still intact. It's proper impressive when you realise soldiers were patrolling this same line nearly 2,000 years ago.

The site itself is straightforward. There's no visitor centre, no café, no faffing about. You rock up, have a look at the wall, maybe trace your fingers along the stonework, and that's the job done. Takes twenty minutes if you're casual, forty if you're reading the information boards and taking photos. The surrounding countryside is lovely - open moorland that makes you understand why this was frontier territory. Walkers will appreciate the section's accessibility; it's not a slog to reach, though the ground can be boggy after rain.

History buffs will find this more satisfying than the busy museum sections elsewhere on the wall. There's something direct about seeing the actual construction rather than reading about it. Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming on its own - it's worth pairing with other wall sites or with a stay at one of the nearby glamping spots. Sycamore Glamping Pods (six miles away, five-star rated) or East Farm Glamping (five miles out) would give you a proper Roman frontier base camp vibe.

Free to visit, open access. Best in decent weather when the views stretch properly across Northumberland.