Redcar, Saltburn and Guisborough

Drivetime 8 miles, 15 minutes

The Borough of Redcar and Cleveland lies to the South of Middlesbrough. With much of the Borough situated on the Heritage Coast of Cleveland and North Yorkshire, the area is a popular seaside destination.

Redcar was historically a bustling Victorian coastal resort and more recently was used as a location for the film Atonement. The town has good shopping facilities as well as a vast promenade and vibrant clubbing scene. Saltburn is still a relaxed and refined resort, with a charm and character that's distinctly Victorian. The formal Italian Gardens are linked to the shore by a miniature railway and a unique cliff lift, which opened in 1884; it is Britain's oldest operating water-balance cliff lift. The pier was originally a magnificent 1,400 ft long, but it had its length reduced to a more modest 600 ft by freak tides in 1974.

Guisborough is a traditional market town, lying at the foot of the Cleveland Hills. Dominating the skyline is Gisborough Priory, a ruined Augustinian priory, founded in 1119 by Robert de Brus II. The east end of the priory church is an outstanding example of Gothic architecture and a reminder that this was once a wealthy medieval monastery, a must-see for all visitors to Guisborough. The town offers a good selection of attractions and exceptional eateries for lunch. Guisborough Forest has many marked footpaths for walkers, and bridleways for cyclists and horse riders of all abilities. Scaling Dam and Lockwood Beck attract fishing enthusiasts and provide an ideal location for learning to sail, due to the steady breeze in this location.

Darlington

Drivetime 16 miles, 25 minutes

Darlington is a contemporary market town with a pioneering rail heritage and a fantastic range of shops and eateries. The compact town centre is largely pedestrianised, where markets, modern shopping centres, medieval-like Yards and Wynds and the designer Imperial Quarter offer visitors 400+ shops to choose from. Darlington's Civic Theatre features an impressive line-up all year round and the town's numerous railway attractions pay compliment to the area's phenomenal industrial legacy.

Hartlepool

Drivetime 9 miles, 25 minutes

Hartlepool's emergence as a visitor destination has undoubtedly been prompted by the development of the award-winning marina. The 500 berth marina is a real focal point for the town and draws people from far and wide to enjoy the surrounds and large variety of international restaurants. Hartlepool's main visitor attraction 'Hartlepool's Maritime Experience' is also to be found here. This recreation of an 18th century seaport recreates life at sea from the time of Nelson, Napoleon and the Battle of Trafalger. The big draw to this attraction is the fabulously restored HMS Trincomalee. The Headland, or 'Old Hartlepool' is home to a number of historically important attractions such as the 'Heugh Gun Battery' which served to protect the town from bombardment in December 1914. The Victorian resort of Seaton Carew offers miles of unspoilt golden beaches and range of traditional guest-house accommodation and hotels.

Stockton-on-Tees

Drivetime 4 miles, 10 minutes

A diverse borough, Stockton-on-Tees is rapidly growing into an impressive international watersports destination. Thanks to the Tees Barrage, the River Tees up stream is now Grade A 2 star, providing water-based activities in abundance to visitors and residents alike. Stockton's International Riverside Festival is the UK's finest street arts festival and has few rivals anywhere and the Arc has quickly become one of the North East's leading alternative arts venues. Yarm, a thriving market town, is also in the Stockton district. Historic and picturesque, Yarm-on-Tees nestles in a loop of the river. Tradition is still at the heart of the town and the impressive 43-arch railway viaduct, which shadows one of the widest cobbled high streets in England, is now protected by conservation status. Yarm provides a varied choice of chic shops, exclusive restaurants and a wide range of pubs with beer gardens.

Whitby

Drivetime 31 miles, 45 minutes

With its quaint cobbled streets and picturesque houses standing on the steep slopes of the River Esk, Whitby is dominated by its cliff top Abbey. Situated along one of Britain's finest stretches of coastline, with cliffs, lovely bays, safe sandy beaches and attractive villages, Whitby has been a port for more than 1000 years and is still a seafarers' town today. The narrow streets and alleys climbing down to the quayside still bustle as they have done for centuries and as folklore and tradition are very much part of the Whitby scene, visitors soon find themselves involved. From these centuries-old streets, 199 steps lead up to the parish church of St Mary, whose churchyard inspired Bram Stoker to write his world-famous novel, Dracula. Performing arts, dance, music and carnivals are just a sample of what's in store at the Whitby Folk Festival and Regatta, while the Captain Cook Festival celebrates the town's proud seafaring tradition.

Newcastle-Gateshead

Drivetime 41 miles, 1 hour

In the North East of England, Newcastle and Gateshead face each other across the River Tyne coming together at the dazzling Quayside. Awash with restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and must-see attractions including the award-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge, BALTIC The Centre for Contemporary Art and Gateshead Angel (Angel of the North). Winter 2004/05 saw the opening of The Sage Gateshead, a stunning Sir Norman Foster building, with billowing curves of glass and steel, catering for every genre of music.
Rich in culture, architecture and history with a great reputation for style, shopping and nightlife, the breadth and scope of things to see and do in Newcastle-Gateshead surprises even the most well-travelled visitor.

North Yorkshire Moors

Drivetime 20 miles, 30 minutes

The North York Moors is a very special place. Where else can you find stunning purple heather moorland, a beautiful Heritage Coast and a National Park in such close proximity? Listen to the call of the upland birds, saunter through picturesque villages of honey sandstone, build sandcastles or sit and watch the world go by. All around are the signs of past generations - historic abbeys, embattled castles, churches, crosses and ancient trackways. The local culture and traditions here are strong. The Jurassic geology of the National Park's Heritage Coast is perhaps second to none. Here the father of English geology made his discoveries and at the coast you can see dinosaur footprints and search for fossils as he may have done.

County Durham

25 miles, 45 minutes

With the North Pennines to the west and beautiful, unspoilt Heritage Coast in the east, there are plenty of ideas for days out in County Durham, ranging from outdoor spectacles like High Force Waterfall and award-winning attractions such as Beamish and The Bowes Museum to historical sites such as the magnificent World Heritage Site Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and Raby Castle. Durham City is the jewel in the crown of an extraordinary county and an undisputed gem of the North. Travel writer Bill Bryson wrote in his book Notes from a Small Island that he "fell in love with it instantly". Inspiration abounds here whatever your interests. The iconic Cathedral has been voted Britain's Best Loved Building by Radio 4 listeners and the Castle World Heritage Site is one of the finest surviving examples of Romanesque architecture on the planet - see it from a different angle by hiring a rowing boat or taking a romantic trip on the river. Boating enthusiasts may be interested to learn that Durham Regatta dates from 1832 and is seven years older than Henley's! The centre sparkles with cafés, galleries, wonderful hotels and unique, one-off shops, which all offer authentic experiences and hospitality that are unique to County Durham.

Useful Links

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

Visitdarlington

Destination Hartlepool

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Visitcountydurham

North Yorkshire Moors National Park

Visitnewcastlegateshead

Visitnortheastengland

Yorkshire Tourist Board

Captain Cook Country Visitor Website