Berwick-upon-Tweed

The last town in England before the Scottish border changes hands more than a football during a cup final. Berwick-upon-Tweed has been captured and recaptured thirteen times, and this tumultuous history shows in its magnificent Elizabethan walls - the most complete in Europe. Walking the ramparts gives you proper views across the Tweed estuary and out to sea.

Windmill Hill offers cracking panoramic views over the town and surrounding countryside, while the Old Windmill stands as a reminder of the area's agricultural past. The town itself has a distinctly frontier feel, with its fortified bridges and ancient gates still controlling entry from the south.

Golf enthusiasts are spoilt for choice here. Goswick Links Golf Club provides a challenging coastal round, while Haggerston Castle Golf Course offers parkland play amid rolling Northumberland countryside. Both courses take advantage of the stunning natural landscape that makes this corner of England so special.

Beyond town, the countryside rolls away in gentle hills. Kentstone Hill and Shepherdskirk Cairn Hill provide excellent walking, while Barmoor Castle adds a touch of medieval grandeur to the landscape. Kyloe in the Woods offers peaceful woodland walks when you need a break from the coastal winds.

Getting here is straightforward - the A1 runs right past, and there's a railway station with direct links to Edinburgh and London. It's about 60 miles north of Newcastle, making it feel properly remote without being inaccessible.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed to explore both the Scottish Borders and Northumberland's wild coast, with Holy Island just a short drive south and the Cheviot Hills within easy reach.