Berwick-upon-Tweed

Three massive Elizabethan ramparts still guard this frontier town where England ends and Scotland begins. Berwick-upon-Tweed feels properly border country - all stone walls, steep streets, and the constant sense you're somewhere significant. The River Tweed curves lazily past medieval bridges while seagulls wheel overhead, reminding you the North Sea is just minutes away.

Those famous walls are the real draw here. You can walk the entire circuit in about an hour, taking in views across the estuary and up into the Borders. St Anne's Church sits within the old garrison, while St Peter offers a quieter moment of reflection. The town centre runs down to the old quayside, where fishing boats still tie up between the railway viaduct and the 17th-century bridge.

Out on the coast, golden beaches stretch for miles in both directions. Holy Island lies tantalisingly close to the south, while Scotland proper begins just across the Tweed. The countryside here is all rolling hills, stone farmhouses, and that particular Northumbrian light that makes everything look like a Turner painting.

Reaching Berwick is straightforward enough - the A1 brings you straight here from Newcastle or Edinburgh, while the East Coast railway stops right in the centre. Edinburgh's only an hour north if you fancy a day trip.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of England. You're ideally placed for castle hopping along the coast, walking Hadrian's Wall, or simply enjoying some of the finest beaches in the country without the crowds you'll find further south.