7 secret North East sun trap to escape the crowds this heatwave

ROSS BACK SANDS, NORTHUMBERLAND

If your idea of a perfect beach day is big skies, zero footfall and where you can actually hear the lapping of the waves, Ross Back Sands might just be your new favourite place.

Tucked between Bamburgh and Holy Island, this vast sweep of golden sand feels like it’s been there since the beginning of time and largely undiscovered – one we wish we’d known about sooner. No promenade, no beach huts, not even an ice cream van to tempt you. Just dunes, sea and those jaw-dropping views across to the Farne Islands.

THE LAWN AT THE BOWES MUSEUM, BARNARD CASTLE

An unusual spot, but the grounds of The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle are one of the most spectacular places to spend a sunny afternoon in the whole of County Durham, and barely anyone seems to treat them that way.

Spread out a blanket, pull out those M&S picky bits and spend a few hours looking up at one of the North East’s most extraordinary buildings from the grass. The elevated setting catches a lovely breeze on hot days, and there’s enough space that you’ll never feel like you’re sitting in someone else’s picnic. It’s the kind of afternoon that feels slightly continental without requiring a passport or a particularly long drive.

GOSFORTH CRICKET GROUND

Hear us out on this one, because it sounds more sedate than it is.

The picturesque cricket ground in Gosforth offers a surprisingly lovely setting for a summer afternoon – and crucially, there’s a bar. Whether you’re watching the match or just using it as a socially acceptable reason to sit in the sun with a pint, there’s something so nostalgic about it. The boundary rope, the gentle thwack of bat on ball, a cold drink in hand. Proper village green energy, right in the heart of the city.

THE PRINTWORKS BAR & LOUNGE, KILLINGWORTH

North Tyneside’s best-kept secret just got a serious upgrade. The Printworks Bar & Lounge has been transformed into a Sicilian-style terrace bar for summer – think Aperol spritzes, cold Italian beers, and regular Aperitivo and pizza nights.

The whole thing is built around La Dolce Vita, and honestly? On a warm evening in North Tyneside, it absolutely delivers on that promise. When the sun goes down and the terrace lights and fire pits come on, it feels like a long way from Newcastle.

INGRAM VALLEY, NORTHUMBERLAND

OK, so this one requires a bit of effort, but Ingram Valley is the kind of place that makes you forget effort was ever involved.

Deep in the heart of Northumberland, the valley rolls out in front of you like something from a painting – wide open hills, quiet walking trails and skies that go on forever. Even on a warm weekend, it stays so peaceful you’ll rarely bump into anyone. Pack properly (picnic, plenty of water and the best picky bits), lace up your boots and give yourself a full day. You’ll thank yourself for it.

HAMSTERLEY FOREST, COUNTY DURHAM

Counterintuitive suggestion for a heatwave? Possibly. But woodland in hot weather is so underrated, and Hamsterley Forest is particularly good at it.

The light filters through the trees in that dappled, golden way that makes everything look like a film set, and the shaded trails offer a natural escape from the full glare of the sun without making you feel like you’re hiding from summer entirely. It’s perfect for a picnic, great for dogs, and a lovely antidote to anywhere that’s currently absolutely heaving. Feeling brave? You can book a wild sauna and waterfall swim in the cool, natural waters of a woodland stream — arguably the most refreshing thing you could do in this heatwave.

ROUGHTING LINN WATERFALL, NORTHUMBERLAND

This one feels like a secret, and we’re telling you about it with the slightly anxious energy of someone who hopes you’ll keep it to yourselves.

Hidden in woodland near Ford in Northumberland, Roughting Linn is properly magical – a beautiful waterfall tumbling into a deep plunge pool, surrounded by ancient rock carvings, lush greenery and the kind of stillness that’s hard to find. It’s the sort of place you discover and immediately start plotting your return visit before you’ve even left.

Bring a picnic. Take the long way round. Tell approximately no one.