Spittal Beach Promenade

The walk along Spittal Beach Promenade from Berwick-upon-Tweed is straightforward enough - you head down to the shoreline and let the North Sea do the talking. It's a proper coastal stretch, the sort of place where the wind has an opinion and the light changes every twenty minutes depending on what the clouds are doing. The promenade itself is functional rather than fancy, which somehow makes it more honest than the manicured seafronts down south.

You get decent views across to the Scottish coast from here, and on a clear day it's genuinely worth the amble. The beach itself is pebbly and tidal - check the times before you go or you'll be standing on rocks wondering where the sand went. Kids will find it entertaining for an hour or so; there's enough to poke about in the rockpools, though you need to time it right. Walkers and photographers get more mileage out of it, especially if you're after that raw, unpolished Northumberland light.

It's free, obviously - it's a beach. Allow an hour for a proper look round, more if you're the contemplative type. The proximity to Berwick Seaview Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite means you could roll out of your pitch and be here in five minutes, which is handy. If you're basing yourself at Haven Berwick Holiday Centre or one of the other parks dotted around, this makes a decent escape from the holiday park routine without needing to drive anywhere.