Chathill

Three miles inland from the Northumberland coast, this working village sits quietly between Seahouses and Bamburgh, watching pilgrims and tourists rush past on their way to holier or more famous ground. Smart move, really - Chathill keeps its head down while offering brilliant access to some of the county's finest stretches.

The real draw here is proximity without the crowds. Beadnell Bay Beach lies just minutes away - a proper sweep of golden sand that's often half-empty even in summer. Link House Beach offers similar pleasures with fewer footprints, while Bell's Point provides cracking views north to the Farne Islands. The Long Nanny Tern Site becomes a wildlife spectacle between May and August, when little terns nest along the shoreline.

Church of St Ebba dominates the village centre, a Norman survivor that's seen eight centuries of Northumbrian weather. More intriguing is St Ebba's Chapel, the ruined remnants of a Saxon foundation that predates the main church by several hundred years. Both speak to Chathill's ancient role as a stopping point on the pilgrim route to Lindisfarne.

Getting here is straightforward enough - the A1 runs close by, making this an easy hop from Newcastle in under an hour. The village itself won't detain you long, but the surrounding Northumberland Coast National Landscape offers days of exploration. Bamburgh Castle looms just four miles north, while Seahouses and its harbour bustle away to the northeast.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring this stretch. You're within striking distance of Holy Island, the Farne Islands, and Bamburgh itself, yet far enough from the main tourist trails to enjoy some peace after a day's sightseeing.