- Play Hard
- 23rd Sep 2026
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- 0 minute
Team High Life North’s autumn bucket list for the North East
Autum has arrived, and the High Life North team have already started plotting exactly how we’re going to make the most of it.
From pumpkin patches to wild saunas, wizarding afternoon tea to Sunday roasts by the fire, we’ve all got our own idea of the perfect North East autumn.
Here’s what’s on our bucket lists this cosy season, giving you plenty of inspiration…
RACHAEL’S BUCKET LIST
First up, there’s no autumn without a trip to Brocksbushes near Corbridge, where more than 160,000 home-grown pumpkins are waiting across the fields. Rachael can’t wait to pop on her wellies, ready to find the perfect one before warming up with a hot chocolate from the farm shop café.
Once the pumpkin’s picked, she’ll finish her day with a pint at the Pele Tower, the 14th-century micro-pub built into Corbridge’s old vicarage. Three floors of exposed stone and low beams make it one of the most atmospheric little drinking spots in Northumberland, and there’s nowhere better to warm up after a muddy afternoon in the patch.
Closer to home, she’s been dying to try the coffee flight at Pure Knead, working her way through a few different roasts and pairing notes side by side rather than settling for the usual flat white.
And Rachael’s already got the wizarding afternoon tea at The Grand, York in the diary, all bubbling potion bottles, butterbeer on arrival and a cinnamon doughnut finished with mascarpone honey chantilly. Proper autumn magic.
BETH’S BUCKET LIST
Beth’s chasing crisp air and golden leaves this autumn, starting with a walk through Alnwick Garden with her dog on one of their dedicated Dog Days. There’s something about the garden in October, all copper and amber against the fountains, that makes it feel completely different to a summer visit.
From there, she’s heading to the hidden gem that is Meg’s Lake for a wild sauna session , alternating between the heat of the cabin and a cold dip in the lake before wrapping up in a blanket to watch the last of the light disappear. It’s the kind of reset that only really works once the temperature drops.
And to round it off, Beth’s booked a steak frites night at House of Tides on Newcastle’s Quayside, tucked inside the Michelin-starred restaurant’s Grade I listed 16th century merchant’s house. Candlelight, exposed beams and a proper glass of red: exactly what an autumn evening should look like.
MOLLY’S BUCKET LIST
Some Sunderland picks from Molly this season. First on the list is an early morning walk up to Penshaw Monument with the dog, catching the mist still sitting over the valley before the National Trust’s Lambton Worm trail properly wakes up, followed by breakfast in the tearooms to warm cold hands back up.
Next, she’s browsing the new autumn homeware at Ashbrooke Home, the newly opened lifestyle store tucked inside Sunderland’s restored Mackie’s Corner. Think candles, cosy throws and seasonal décor, with a slice of cake and a coffee thrown in while you shop.
And no Sunderland bucket list is complete without a stop at Propa at Sheepfolds Stables, Si King’s grab-and-go spot serving up homemade pies, sausage casseroles and a proper pint. Molly’s going for the classic pie and a pint combination, the kind of nostalgic comfort food this corner of Sunderland does best.
LAURA’S BUCKET LIST
Laura’s after a long, lazy Sunday, and she’s booked a roast at Hadrian’s Hotel in Wall, just half a mile from Hadrian’s Wall itself. Newly refurbished for this year, it’s the kind of gastropub dining that makes a Sunday feel like it should stretch on for hours.
She’s also trying cryotherapy at Aldwark Manor, taking full advantage of the estate’s newly opened Salus Spa and its scenic sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool. It’s a proper investment in slowing down before the year gets busy again.
And to finish, Laura’s staying over at Rockliffe Hall near Darlington, keen to try the resort’s new dining additions following its multimillion-pound transformation this year . A weekend of spa treatments, golf and good food, exactly what fuels her for the months ahead.
ROSIE’S BUCKET LIST
Sunday roast is on Rosie’s list too, and she’s heading to The Beehive in Earsdon, the Grade II listed 18th century inn with low beamed ceilings and a menu built on local, homemade cooking. In view of St Mary’s Island, it’s the kind of proper North East pub Sunday lunch that doesn’t need dressing up.
She’s also planning to take on one of our High Life North Hikes through Thrunton Woods, following the winding trails up to Coe Crags for views across the Cheviot Hills as the leaves turn. It’s an alternative to Northumberland’s bigger-name walks, and all the better for it.
And finally, Rosie’s booked into a Cullen Works pottery class, getting her hands messy with clay for an afternoon of hand-building and glazing. There’s nothing quite like slowing right down and making something with your hands as the nights start drawing in.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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