1. CRAGSIDE HOUSE, Rothbury :

If I had to choose just one place in Northumberland to visit, it would be Cragside . Why ? because its in Rothbury, a gorgeous, small village nestling in the Coquet Valley and because Cragside, once home to industrial genius Lord Armstrong, boasts some of the most beautiful grounds and gardens in England. Here you can meander along 40 miles of footpaths, past lakes, streams and some of England's tallest trees. Alternatively you can drive up the winding, scenic roadway in settings reminiscent of Switzerland. The scenery is ever changing and spectacular!  The house itself is impressive and surrounded by one of Europe's largest rock gardens, multiple banks of spectacular rhododendrons and a large collection of mostly coniferous trees.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

2.LINDISFARNE :

So, you’ve decided to write that novel. You’ll need romantic locations, perhaps a castle, even an island, some ancient ruins plus a historical backdrop and a touch of magic. Well you’ve just defined Lindisfarne or Holy Island, the ‘must see’  tidal island off the Northumberland coast, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway and cut off twice a day by North Sea tides . Lindisfarne offers, fantastic views wherever you turn, out to sea, over to the mainland, at the large variety of bird life, the great walks or the quaint village. It also has an amazing history trail (St Aidan established Christianity here in AD 635) . Its unforgettable 16th century castle perches high on the prominent rocky outcrop which forms the island. Lindisfarne has been called one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the North. No wonder, do not miss this one !

3.BARTER BOOKS : Suprisingly, one of the largest second hand bookshops in Europe is situated in mid Northumberland,  in the historic town of Alnwick. Opened  in 1991 in a huge, grand old Victorian railway station, I am told Barter Books sell over 3,000 books per week and have a stock of over 300,000,so browse to your hearts content. Its worth a visit for the statuesque building alone, never mind the books, the open fires, the excellent coffee and cookies, the model railway, the mini-cybercafé , children's room (with enough toys to allow parents and grandparents to browse elsewhere in peace) and many interesting antiquarian books. Don’t forget there’s also the  historic town of Alnwick to explore !! Think we’d better make it two weeks !

4.ALNWICK GARDEN :

There’s tons to hold your attention at The Alnwick Garden. Acres of fascinating plants, water sculptures and the infamous Poison Garden, for a start. The  centrepiece of the spectacular water displays is the Grand Cascade, the largest water feature of its kind in the UK, with 38 spectacular water fountains providing a spellbinding spectacle and an interactive experience for younger visitors. There’s also one of the world’s largest wooden tree houses. The Alnwick Garden really has something for everyone to enjoy and its open all year round. Come and watch creative performances and tours, hands-on workshops, enjoy fabulous local food and inspirational gifts from Northumberland. It’s a wonderful garden, and an even better day out. www.alnwickgarden.com

5.CRASTER : Experience a tiny fishing village more or less as it was in Victorian times, with a trip up the Northumbrian coast to Craster. Its a charming village with its own delightfully enclosed harbour and tiny beach. The ITV series ‘Distant Shores’ was filmed here. Walking enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy a circular walk of about six miles, taking in the spectacular Northumberland Coast and the dramatic windswept ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Then zap back to the Jolly Fisherman pub for an ale and a truly incredible crab sandwich while you enjoy the views out to sea. After lunch and just over the way is Robson’s Kipper and Smoked Salmon Factory (by appointment to HRH ! no less )-and boy are they are good !   A great end to a great day out.

6.HULNE PARK , ALNWICK : Fancy the unspoilt beauty of nature combined with a great walk that is sheer bliss ? Too good to be true ? Well Hulne Park, in Alnwick, makes it come true in its   3000 acres of outstanding natural beauty, totally secluded by several miles of stone wall. You can wander through woodland observing countless species of trees, follow the meandering river, or simply sit in the huge open meadows, as time looks after itself. There’s also the remains of a 13th century Carmelite priory, Hulne Abbey, regarded as the best preserved in the country and the remains of Alnwick Abbey, all surrounded by huge unspoilt areas of open parkland. Go on you’ve earned it !

7.KIELDER: The pub quiz asked if we’d been to England’s most tranquil spot ? Well had we ?  Yes as it happens, we’d been to Kielder Water & Forest Park. I wouldn’t easily forget it has Northern Europe's largest man-made lake with a 27 mile shoreline, England's largest forest and oh yes it just happens to be an area of stunning beauty and serenity. Campaign to Protect Rural England describe it as the country's most tranquil spot. I also remember going wind surfing while Jane and the kids went mountain biking. Our accommodation was spot on and next morning we all went horse riding and in the afternoon took the cruise on the lake. On the third day Sam and I got some tremendous fishing in , while Jane and Sarah went red squirrel spotting, because 50% of England's red squirrel population live around Kielder.

8.HOWICK HALL GARDENS : When you’re looking for a really nice place to spend some time, how do you decide where to go ? Toss a coin while consulting numerous Internet sites ? Or, maybe you’d rather trust BBC’s Gardeners World and The Independent, who both give top 10 ratings to Howick Hall Gardens in Northumberland. I went to see for myself.

Since 1319, Howick Hall has been the ancestral home of the Grey family, the 2nd Earl Grey, was a former UK Prime Minister. He it was, who planted the Long Walk, a dene which starts at the east end of the woodland garden and winds down to the sea for one and a half miles - a superb walk. You’ll enjoy the banquet on show here and a few of the highlights are the spring bulbs, the woodland garden; the summer borders, a superb rockery and the wild bog garden planted around a pond (at its peak in high summer ).

http://www.howickhallgardens.org/

9.ALNMOUTH : We Brits and our beaches are inseparable. So if I wanted to find the best one in Northumberland, where would I go ? Having lived here for 50 years, I’d say that for me, from a choice of many, it comes down to just one. Alnmouth is my seaside choice because of its magnificent beach, those  golden sands sweep around the bay in a wide impressive arc. It is clean, quiet and spacious and never seems to feel crowded. It is bordered by the Alnmouth Village golf course which adds to the overall impression of no boundaries. Walking from the estuary at the south end of the village along hundreds of metres of white sand to Seaton Point (the next bay) and if you fancy it, on northwards, to discover the Northumbrian coastline. It’s a beautiful rural setting with plenty of bird watching opportunities along the sand dunes and afterwards, there is  a variety of restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and gift shops for the (hungry) visitor to enjoy.

10.BELSAY HALL : Have you got a morning or an afternoon to get upfront and personal with a fascinating Classical Greek Revival villa (a magnificent house, as we lesser mortals say), a castle, and (we guarantee )the most unusual garden you’ll ever see. They’re all at Belsay Hall, fourteen miles NW of Newcastle. The vast gardens provide a magnificent setting for a mediaeval castle, a 19th century country mansion and a rugged and romantic 11 acre Quarry Garden, created where stone was removed to build the hall. It has ravines, pinnacles, sheer rock faces and wide ranges of exotic species. The Winter Garden, Yew Garden, and Magnolia Terrace are also not to be missed and the rhododendrons are to die for !

Top Ten List written by Brian Walker