Wooler Tower

The tower stands alone on the edge of Wooler, a squat stone keep that's survived centuries of Border raids and neglect. Built in the 16th century as a pele tower - those defensive structures the Northumbrians threw up when Scottish raids were a genuine threat - it's the sort of place that makes you realise how unsettled this corner of England actually was.

You can't go inside, which is a shame, but walking around the exterior tells the story well enough. The walls are thick, the windows small and defensive. It's a proper reminder that the Borders weren't some romantic frontier - they were genuinely dangerous. The tower itself is free to visit and accessible on foot from the town centre, so it's an easy addition to an hour in Wooler itself.

It's worth a fifteen-minute detour if you're staying at Riverside Wooler Holiday Park or Highburn House just down the road. Don't expect crowds or visitor facilities - there's none of that. What you get is an authentic bit of local history without the theme park treatment. Families with older kids who aren't bored by old buildings will get something from it. Young children might find it less engaging unless you've primed them on Border warfare.

Best visited on a clear day when you can see across the Cheviot foothills. Winter's bleaker and somehow more atmospheric - you really feel the isolation the original inhabitants must have dealt with.