Ridley Hall

The River Tyne flows past Ridley Hall with a proper sense of purpose, and this picnic spot does exactly what it says on the tin - gives you a decent place to eat sandwiches and watch the water go by. It's a straightforward setup near Hexham, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. You get grass, trees for shade when needed, and access to the riverbank without having to scramble through undergrowth.

Walkers using the Tyne Valley route will appreciate having somewhere to stop and recover. Families with young kids won't find much entertainment beyond "look at the river", so don't expect to spend hours here - thirty minutes to an hour tops unless you're the type who just wants to sit quietly with a flask of tea. The surrounding countryside is pleasant rather than dramatic; this is farming land and woodland, solid and green but not spectacular.

If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Langley Dam is closest at under three miles - you might pop down here for a lunch break between bigger walks or attractions. It's the sort of place that works brilliantly as a pit stop rather than a destination in itself. Free access, no faffing about with gates or fees that I could find. Go when the weather's decent because there's not much shelter, and early autumn when the midges aren't quite so determined gives you the best experience.