Morpeth

The Wednesday market still draws crowds to the cobbled square, just as it has for seven centuries. Morpeth sits pretty on the River Wansbeck, a proper market town that's managed to keep its soul intact while the world rushes past on the A1.

Bagpipe Museum might sound niche, but it's genuinely fascinating - who knew there were so many ways to squeeze music from a bag? The town centre's compact enough to explore on foot, with independent shops lining the narrow streets and Bridge Street's Georgian facades looking rather grand. Carlisle Park stretches along the riverbank, perfect for a proper walk after too much cake.

Twenty minutes east and you'll hit the Northumberland coast. Cresswell Bay Beach offers miles of golden sand without the summer crowds of Tynemouth, while Broad Sand Rocks provides dramatic clifftop walks when you fancy something more rugged. The coastline here feels wild - gulls wheel overhead and the North Sea crashes against ancient limestone.

Getting here's straightforward enough. The A1 runs just west of town, making Morpeth easily reached from Newcastle (15 miles south) or Edinburgh. There's a railway station too, with regular services to both cities.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip into Morpeth for supplies or a pub lunch, yet positioned to explore Northumberland's coast and countryside. The Cheviot Hills beckon to the west, while Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh are day trips up the coast.