One of the main highlights of any trip to North East England is that first view of Bamburgh Castle, poised on its rocky outcrop and commanding respect from all around. The area was vitally important during past centuries in terms of defence, which is why it is so heavily fortified. In fact there are more castles in Northumberland than any other county in England. Some, like Alnwick, Bamburgh and Raby are family homes; others, such as Lumley and Langley, are hotels; and every one has its own special atmosphere and stories to tell.

The Romans occupied Northumberland for 400 years, building Hadrian’s Wall in AD122 to mark the northern limit of their Empire. Almost 2000 years later, the remains of their settlements are still very much in evidence. Visit Chesters, Corbridge, Housesteads and Vindolanda to learn how they lived and worked, and don’t miss the Vindolanda Tablets - a superb archive of personal letters from the people who lived and worked on the Wall – on display during 2010 and 2011.

For spiritual atmosphere it’s hard to beat the Holy Island of Lindisfarne: even your arrival over the tidal causeway is pure magic. With 1300 years of history to savour, there’s plenty to see on a day trip, including the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, the castle in its breathtaking setting and the story of one of the greatest works of art this nation has ever produced – the Lindisfarne Gospels.

You can visit Cragside, the home of engineering genius Lord Armstrong and the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity. See how local people lived and worked in the early 18^th and 19^th centuries at Beamish; and visit a recreated 18^th-century seaport at Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, complete with the UK’s oldest warship still afloat: HMS Trincomalee.