Herding Hill Farm - Fun Days Out

Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort just south of Hadrian's Wall, near the village of Bardon Mill in Northumberland. It was occupied from roughly 85 AD to 370 AD and is one of Europe's most important Roman archaeological sites, with live excavations taking place every year. It is also the home of the Vindolanda Writing Tablets, wooden leaf-tablets that were the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain when they were found.

On site you can explore the fort and its museum, and see artefacts and films that bring the Roman frontier to life. Guided tours of the fort give an overview of the site and its archaeological highlights. The Trust also runs the Roman Army Museum, based at the site of Magna Roman Fort beside a sweeping stretch of the Wall, and a single Saver Ticket covers both sites. It suits anyone who likes history and wants to see archaeology still being uncovered.

Tip: Combine it with the Roman Army Museum on one Saver Ticket, and check the tour timetable for the guided fort tours.

Housesteads Roman Fort is an auxiliary fort on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland. It sits at the end of a one-mile crag of the Whin Sill, which the Wall runs over, overlooking sparsely populated hills. It has been called the "grandest station" on the Wall and is one of the best-preserved and most extensively displayed forts. The fort's name has been given as Vercovicium, Borcovicus, Borcovicium and Velurtion.

Because the fort had no running water supply, it relied on rainwater, and large stone-lined cisterns can still be seen around its edge. It also has one of the best-preserved stone latrines in Roman Britain. Outside the fort, foundations of the civil settlement remain, including the so-called "Murder House". Finds from the fort are displayed in the site museum. The site is owned by the National Trust and cared for by English Heritage. Vindolanda fort is about 2 miles away.

Carlisle Castle guarded the western end of the Anglo-Scottish border for hundreds of years and survived seven sieges by the Scots between 1174 and 1461. It was later adapted for artillery, and in 1568 it held Mary Queen of Scots prisoner. It stayed in military use well into the 20th century.

You can explore the Tudor battery, the 12th-century gatehouse and the recently conserved keep, which has 15th-century carvings on its second floor. Other things to see and do include Queen Mary's Tower, the Warden's apartments and an exhibition. Inside the castle is Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, which covers the Border Regiment's 300-year history. There is also a World Builder trail where you can build your own city.

Tip: Booking advance tickets online saves 15%, and arriving by bus, train or bike gets you 20% off entry at the site on the day.

Aydon Castle is a fortified medieval manor house near Corbridge in Northumberland, and is thought to be one of the least-altered examples in England. Begun in the late 13th century, it was progressively turned into a miniature castle as Anglo-Scottish border warfare grew fiercer, and was attacked at least three times by Scots raiders.

Inside, you can explore the hall, chambers and other rooms, and look out for original fireplaces and a garderobe toilet. You can also climb up to the battlements, then have a picnic in the walled orchard. The castle is less than a mile from the Hadrian's Wall Trail and a short drive from Corbridge Roman Town and Chesters Roman Fort. It is closed for winter, so check it has reopened before you plan a visit.

Tip: English Heritage lists it as closed for winter, so check it has reopened before you travel.

Hall Hill Farm is an award-winning farm attraction near Tow Law in County Durham. It has been open to the public since 1981 and is still a working farm, run by the family who have farmed here since 1925. The land covers 290 hectares of grassland, woodland and crops, and the farm is home to over a thousand sheep.

Visitors can meet llamas, wallabies, Highland cattle, pigs, donkeys, ponies, chicks, lambs and rabbits, and there are friendly rabbits to handle. Admission includes a tractor and trailer ride. You can also play wonky donkey crazy golf and watch puppet shows, with a barrel train and mini jeeps as extras. The farm also takes school and group visits, and offers birthday parties and an Adopt an Animal scheme.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online, and the farm can be phoned on 01388 731333 for help with pre-booking.

Prudhoe Castle is a ruined medieval castle on the south bank of the River Tyne in Northumberland, now looked after by English Heritage. It sits on a ridge above the river and guarded an important crossing. You approach past a mill pond, through the 14th-century barbican and over the inner ditch to the formidable gatehouse.

Inside, the outer ward holds the remains of several buildings, including the Great Hall, and a manor house built in the early 19th century that houses a visitor's shop and exhibition rooms. Beyond it, the inner ward is dominated by the 12th-century keep, and the gatehouse has an atmospheric chapel. The castle withstood a Scottish attack in the 1170s, and the Umfraville and Percy families held it for centuries. It suits history fans and anyone who likes exploring castle ruins with a good story behind them.

Tip: Check the English Heritage website before you go, as access to the inner ward and chapel is limited to certain days. There is free parking a short walk from the entrance, along a slope with cobbles and loose gravel.

Hermitage Castle is a semi-ruined stronghold in the remote valley of the Hermitage Water, in Scotland's wild border country. It was targeted for 400 years because of its role in controlling the Scottish Middle March, and it has a name as one of the most sinister and atmospheric castles in Scotland.

Wander through the ruins and picture the brutal struggles for power that once raged along the Anglo-Scottish border. The castle's story takes in murder, torture and treason, with names such as Mary, Queen of Scots and the Earl of Bothwell woven through it. A fact-finding quiz is available to follow as you explore, which adds a bit of fun to the visit.

It's a good pick if you enjoy border history and like the splendid isolation of a castle set well away from everything else. The castle is run by Historic Environment Scotland.

Tip: In the summer season (1 April to 31 October) it is covered by the Historic Environment Scotland Explorer Pass, but not in winter, so check before you go.

Washington Old Hall is a stone manor house in the heart of Washington village, cared for by the National Trust. It includes parts of the medieval home of George Washington's direct ancestors, and the family took its surname from here. The ground floor shows a 17th-century home, with carved oak furniture and a collection of Delft ware. Upstairs, the Tenement Room recreates the home of the Bone family, with an audio interview bringing back memories of life in the hall.

Outside, the gardens include a wildflower mead, a parterre inspired by an apothecary and a young orchard of English heritage apples. The nuttery is full of insects, birds and pond life, and there's a small play area with a wooden castle. Bring a picnic for the benches or lawn, then follow the short village walk past Holy Trinity Church, where members of the Washington family are buried.

Tip: Free parking is available on The Avenue, right beside the property.