Hexham

Romans built their great wall here for good reason - the landscape is wild, rolling and utterly captivating. Market town life carries on as it has for centuries, with proper independent shops lining the medieval streets and the magnificent abbey keeping watch over stone bridges that span the Tyne.

Hexham Abbey dominates the town centre, its Saxon crypt and soaring nave testament to 1,300 years of worship. The weekly market still fills the old market place on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while the Moot Hall houses quirky exhibitions including the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi - definitely worth a look if you're into vintage robots and space adventures.

Venture beyond the town and you're into proper Northumberland countryside. The Pennine peaks rise to the south - Stobbs Cross and Shaw Hill offer cracking walks with views that stretch to Scotland on clear days. Head towards Allendale and you'll find the old Allenheads Smelt Mill, a fascinating reminder of the area's lead mining heritage, plus the excellent Allendale Brewery doing proper ales.

Getting here is straightforward enough - the A69 runs right past, connecting Newcastle to Carlisle. The railway station puts you on the Newcastle-Carlisle line, one of England's most scenic routes.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Hadrian's Wall Campsite or Herding Hill Farm makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed for wall walks, with Housesteads just 20 minutes away, yet close enough to nip into town for supplies or a decent meal. The countryside feels genuinely remote but civilisation is never far - exactly what you want for a proper Northumberland break.