Ravenscleugh Wild Swimming and Camping

This is a great spot for cyclists pedalling along the Sandstone Way (Berwick to Hexham), or those looking to try out a shorter stretch of the route; other long-distance routes nearby include The Reivers Way and the Alternative Coast to Coast. More walks and bike riding routes are all over the Northumberland National Park, and it also has options for fishing, horse riding and climbing. There’s a whole lot of history to take in as you explore the area too. Hadrian’s Wall is one of the big attractions – you can visit several sections of the wall these days, or stop in at places like Vindolanda and Housesteads Roman Fort (both 40 minutes’ drive). The Victorian Cragside (25 minutes) and Norman Alnwick Castle (45 minutes) are both well worth a visit too (the latter especially if you have Harry Potter fans on board). If you’re heading towards Alnwick, allocate some time to exploring Northumberland’s fabulous coastline too – Alnwick itself has a great beach, or you could head a little further (an hour’s drive) to the likes of Dunstanburgh Castle and Craster. Heading south instead, there’s always much to do in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (40 minutes).