Hendon Beach Cliffs. (Sunderland)

The cliffs at Hendon Beach rear up sudden and dramatic from the shoreline south of Sunderland, all red and orange rock striations that look like someone's sliced through a geological layer cake. You get proper views across the coast from up top, and on clear days you can see right along towards Hartlepool way. The walk down to the beach itself isn't complicated but needs a bit of care - the path's fine, the real challenge is just the wind that whips in off the North Sea without warning.

Walkers will find this worth the detour from Peterlee if you're doing the coastal trail. Allow an hour or so to descend, potter about the beach, and climb back up. The rocks themselves are fascinating if you're into geology - local stone used to get quarried here for building, and you'll spot old workings if you look. Kids won't get bored for long though; there's no facilities, no ice cream van, just cliffs and shale beach.

Best visited when the tide's out and the light's low - makes those cliff faces glow. Avoid midday glare if you're photographing. It's free, naturally, and you can access it whenever. If you're staying at The Barn at Easington down the road, this makes a bracing morning walk before breakfast - the wind will sort you out for the day ahead.