NORTH East England has a wealth of beautiful countryside and fascinating history to explore. There are so many different places and wonderful days out to be enjoyed by all the family. Here are some suggestions of great places to visit. Spend a day in and around the charming town of Alnwick in Northumberland. With its cobbled market place and main street dating back to medieval times, the town has a very historic feel. It also has some lovely old, well preserved buildings containing a fine selection of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Visit Alnwick Castle, one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Look round its beautiful interiors – including the Great Hall. Scenes from Harry Potter were filmed at the castle. And no visit would be complete without a visit to The Alnwick Garden where you can marvel at the spectacular water displays, exquisite planting and one of the largest tree houses in the world. Hadrian’s Wall Country has so much to offer for all the family. Find out about our Roman past by visiting the wall and forts, or explore some of the surrounding area for other fun things to do. Vindolanda, Roman Site and Museum A fascinating Roman fort and settlement. See recently excavated buildings and well preserved Roman artefacts as well as full sized reconstructions of a Roman temple, shop and house, and a full size replica of a section of Hadrian’s Wall. There is a café and a scenic picnic area, perfect for a leisurely day exploring our Roman heritage. www.vindolanda.com Roman Festival, Corbridge Roman Town, August 26 and 27. The Romans are coming! An action packed weekend in the company of the Imperial Roman Army. See military skills demonstrations, Roman falconry and let the kids join in lots of fun activities. Booking recommended. www.english-heritage.org.uk Chillingham Castle, Chillingham A unique and remarkable castle with great hall, medieval banqueting halls, and kids will love the scary dungeons and torture chamber. There is a wide diversity of rooms and styles to see and areas undergoing restoration. Said to be one of the country’s most haunted castles, there are also ghost tours of the haunted areas of the castle and grounds. Chillingham Wild Cattle Visit Chillingham Park and see the pure-bred white cattle herd that once roamed the forests of Britain. Visitors take a fascinating walking tour with the warden. Open 10am to12pm, 2pm to 5pm. Closed Tuesdays. Sundays 2pm to 5pm only. Crook Hall and Gardens Just minutes from Durham City and well worth a visit is this real hidden gem, with its maze, Secret Walled Garden and Shakespeare-inspired garden. The eighth annual Art in the Garden exhibition takes place until August 31. There is a range of art from innovative contemporary pieces to more traditional wooden carvings. Look for the installations around the garden – including golden apples hanging from the garden’s own apple trees! There are also performance art pieces where visitors can blow bubbles across the moat pool, 3pm on Sundays. For more information call (0191) 384-8028 or visit www.crookhallgardens.co.uk. Puffin Cruises, Amble, Northumberland Take a boat trip around Coquet Island with its 80 feet tall lighthouse and see the puffins, terns, Eider ducks, rare Roseate terns and seals. Sailing times vary according to weather conditions so please phone in advance (01665) 711975. Find more inspiration for great days out go to www.visitnortheastengland.com or visit your local Tourist Information Centre. | 
