Northumberland is a laid-back destination brimming with unspoiled beauty

Getting away for a few days is usually seen as the perfect way to recharge your batteries.

I love a bustling city getaway, exploring new areas and finding out what makes a place tick.

But these breaks often end up so hectic that I need a holiday afterwards to recover!

So if you fancy complete relaxation, a more laid-back destination is called for.

And Northumberland is the perfect choice.

It’s an area of such unspoiled beauty, you can’t help but get caught up in it and leave the everyday stresses of life at home.

For Christine Forsyth, getting away from it all in Northumberland meant more than a few days of rest and then back to the old routine.

She came for a nosy in 1999, having heard how beautiful the area was. She’d fancied a lifestyle change and a move away from Hertfordshire, where she’d lived for 30 years.

She knew that, wherever she ended up, she’d need to earn a living and one thing she didn’t want to do was to run a pub.

Sometimes, life has a way of surprising you, though. Not only did Christine fall in love with the Northumbrian coastline, she also decided to take the plunge and move to run the tiny Ship Inn in the village of Low Newton.

She’s still there and people travel for miles to eat at her quirky wee pub – it’s that good. Simple, mainly local food, full of flavour and made all the better if you team it with one of the beers from The Ship’s brewery.

The Ship nestles in a charming square of whitewashed cottages and, sitting outside with a drink on a sunny day, life doesn’t get much better.

If you’re in the area and fancy eating here – and you’d be mad not to – don’t make the mistake we did and wander in after a lovely walk along the beach – it’s often fully booked.

Locals and holidaymakers alike can’t get enough of dishes like local mackerel with soy and lime.

It’s easy to understand why Christine fell in love with the whole area.

The beach is one of the most stunning in the UK.

It’s a vast, spectacular sweep of sand and rolling sea. It’s no surprise when one local tells me this coastal patch often features in lists of the top 10 walks in the UK.

There are adventures aplenty to be found in the miles of sand dunes, too – we saw kids playing hide-and- seek in them and having the time of their lives.

And, of course, once you’ve walked along the beach, you feel more than justified in rewarding yourself with a lovely lunch and a refreshing drink.

Well, think of all the calories you’ve burnt strolling along that beach!

Of course, there’s more to Northumberland than just sand.

For many, a visit to the area wouldn’t be complete without seeing Holy Island.

Steeped in history and rich in wildlife, it’s a fascinating place. And if you’re planning a visit in the next few weeks, bravo as the autumn is the best time to see some of that wildlife.

Be sure to check safe crossing times if you fancy a visit. There are warning signs either end of the causeway telling you when it’s safe to cross – but as recently as April a couple had to be rescued after ending up stranded there.

Another lovely little part of this world is Barter Books, in nearby Alnwick.

Considered an institution by locals, it’s the perfect place for whiling away spare time. It’s also the home of the original Keep Calm and Carry On posters.

Combining a second-hand bookshop and cafe, you’ll find a warm welcome and a fabulous selection of books.

It’s a super visit at any time. But there’s something about the interior of Barter Books that makes a visit on a cold, rainy day all the more special.

With its squashy sofas, open fire in winter and great book selection, it’s like a home-from-home.

Luckily, this being Britain, there’s no shortage of those rainy days!

And the Station Buffet, the store’s coffee shop, is just as good. A few years ago, it was a derelict room. Now it’s a tempting cafe.

Breakfast is good, and the cakes are too.

Like so much of Northumberland, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice and wishing you could spend more time there.

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