Northumberland is known for its scenic drives such as the Coastal Route that connects Bamburgh to Amble.
What it's not known so much for is stellar public transport links - either bus or rail. However, it has been named one of the best places to have a car-free break in the UK - along with a handful of attractions in Newcastle and North Tyneside.
With just a month left until the culmination of the 1900 Festival, history and hostelling around Hadrian's Wall has been recommended as the centre of a car-free break in the county. And it is possible even for those looking for a day out from Newcastle, all you need to do is take a train to Hexham or Haltwhistle and hop on the AD122 bus, named as one of the most scenic bus routes in the country earlier this year.
Read more: Northumberland bus route named one of the country's most scenic
Formerly running from April to October, the bus now runs year-round and takes visitors to several stops along Hadrian's Wall including Walltown Crags, Chesters Roman Fort and the Mithraic temple at Brocolitia. The bus does a loop and can be caught from either of those Northumberland train stations.
Of history and hostelling along Hadrian's Wall, the Guardian wrote: "This year is seeing 12 months of celebrations to mark 1,900 years since Emperor Hadrian built his famous wall, so what better time to visit this ancient monument. When it’s too wintry to hike across the moors and slippery rock steps, use the bus to shuttle between these atmospheric places, and stay (weekends only except Christmas week) at the Sill youth hostel (private en suite rooms from £49)."
However, there's also plenty of Hadrian's Wall to see without leaving the city and its surroundings. Segedunum in Wallsend comes highly recommended in the original article, as does the Hadrian's Wall national trail.
If you're feeling properly adventurous, ChronicleLive recommends taking yourself off the national trail and into the West End of Newcastle, where you can see hidden parts of Hadrian's Wall such as the Denton Turret and the Temple of Antenociticus in Benwell. A trip south of the river on the Metro will also take you to Arbeia Roman Fort, a garrison and military supply base to forts along the wall.
Of Newcastle and Segedunum, the Guardian wrote: "In wet weather, the mostly tarmac stretches of the Hadrian’s Wall national trail around Newcastle are a good bet, and rich in cafes and museums like Segedunum Roman Fort near Wallsend metro station (£5.95 adult). Here, a viewing tower overlooks the outline of the fort and maps of imperial power sit alongside details of everyday life: the dice that Roman soldiers used to pass the time or the mark of a cat’s paw on an ancient piece of pottery."
To read the full article on the Guardian on five great car-free breaks around the UK, click here.
Where's your favourite place to visit along Hadrian's Wall? Let us know!
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