Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway

The narrow gauge railway at Woodhorn is a proper slice of industrial heritage tucked just outside Ashington. It's the sort of place where you half expect someone to appear in a flat cap and pocket watch, ready to dispatch a miniature locomotive down the tracks. The line actually operated here during the colliery days, hauling coal rather than tourists, and they've since restored it as a working railway attraction.

You can ride the trains on operating days - they're genuinely small, which kids either love or find slightly unsettling depending on age. The whole experience takes about an hour from arrival to departure, though you could stretch it to two if you fancy a poke around the small museum and gift shop. On a decent day the views across Northumberland are decent enough, and there's something oddly satisfying about chugging along at five miles per hour with the wind in your hair.

It works well if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Parkdean's Church Point is barely two miles away, or Golden Sands if you want somewhere highly rated. The railway suits families with younger children more than teenagers, and history buffs will get more from it than pure adrenaline seekers. Fair warning: it's not Disneyland on rails. It's understated, occasionally a bit ramshackle, and absolutely honest about what it is - a volunteer-run heritage project rather than a polished attraction. That's precisely why it's worth stopping by if you're in the area.