Weetslade Colliery Country Park

The old colliery works have been transformed into something genuinely worth stopping for on your way between Whitley Bay and the inland bits of Tyne and Wear. You're standing on what was once industrial heartland - the pit's gone, but the landscape tells the story. The viewpoint gives you proper views across the former mining land, with enough interpretation to understand what happened here without it feeling like you're being lectured at.

It's the kind of place that appeals most to walkers tackling longer routes through the area, and to anyone interested in industrial heritage without wanting a full museum experience. You could spend anything from half an hour to a couple of hours here depending on whether you're just after the view or exploring the surrounding paths. Kids will get something out of it if they're old enough to understand the social history angle; younger ones might find it a bit quiet.

Free to visit, which is always a bonus. The park sits well within reach of Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park and Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite if you're basing yourself locally. Best visited on a clear day when the views actually justify the trip - on grey drizzle days, which admittedly happen often enough round here, it's less compelling. It's a solid addition to a walking itinerary rather than a destination in its own right, but that's precisely why it works.