Greenlee Meadows

The view from Greenlee Meadows stops you dead. You're standing on high ground near Hexham with the Northumberland landscape rolling away in every direction - proper countryside, the kind that makes you understand why people move here and never leave. On a clear day, the sight lines stretch for miles across open moorland and farmland, the sort of vista that justifies a detour off the main roads.

It's a walker's spot primarily. You won't find facilities or visitor infrastructure here - this is a pull-over-and-gaze kind of place - but that's precisely what makes it work. The meadows themselves are gentle rather than dramatic, but the elevated position means the views do the talking. Ten minutes is enough to take it in properly, though you might linger longer with a flask and a good reason to sit still.

Families with younger children might find it a bit underwhelming on its own - there's no play area or farm animals - but it works brilliantly as a stop-off during a longer walk or drive around the area. History buffs visiting Hadrian's Wall will appreciate the wider landscape context, seeing the terrain the Romans had to navigate.

You're only a few miles from several excellent campsites: Hadrian's Wall Campsite and Stonehaugh are both highly rated, and Herling Hill Farm offers glamping if you want something less rugged. Base yourself at any of them and work Greenlee Meadows into a morning drive or afternoon walk. It costs nothing and demands nothing except five minutes of your time.