Riverside Leisure Park - Fun Days Out

Chillingham Castle is a 13th-century fortress in Northumberland, listed Grade I. It stands on what was once the border between England and Scotland, and was repeatedly attacked and besieged. Edward I stayed here in 1298, and James I in 1617. Inside you can see its grand rooms, including the great hall, and walk through the gardens and grounds. There are lakes and a tearoom too.

The castle markets itself as one of Britain's most haunted, and has been visited by the TV show Most Haunted. For a spookier visit, you can explore the Torture Chamber or join a ghost tour. The castle's grounds are home to the rare white Chillingham cattle. The castle describes itself as perfect for short breaks and family days out, and it is about 20 minutes from the coast.

Bamburgh Castle is a Grade I listed fortress on the Northumberland coast, built on a crag of volcanic dolerite above the North Sea. It covers nine acres of rocky plateau and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country. Anglo-Saxon kings of Northumbria made it their royal capital, the Normans built the keep that still forms its heart, and in the Wars of the Roses it became the first English castle to fall to gunpowder.

Inside, you can tour the State Rooms, including the King's Hall, and see industrialist William Armstrong's collection of artwork, ceramics and objets d'art. He bought and restored the castle in the late 19th century. There are plenty of ghost stories and legends, and it is believed to be the site of Sir Lancelot's fictitious castle, Joyous Garde. History fans will enjoy it most, but the sea views and outdoor spaces, plus a café for takeaway refreshments, suit families and couples too.

Tip: Prams and pushchairs aren't allowed in the State Rooms, so bring a baby carrier; there is a free shuttle buggy from the on-site car park up the hill.

Alnwick Castle is the seat of the Duke of Northumberland and has been home to the Percy family since 1307. It began as a Norman stronghold and grew into a major fortress on the Anglo-Scottish border. Inside the keep, the State Rooms include the Library, Drawing Room, Saloon, Dining Room and China Gallery. You can also walk the battlements and see the Victorian Great Kitchen.

Daily activities come with entry, from falconry and jesters to music and medieval crafts. There are talks and guided tours on the castle's history and its film connections. Broomstick Training runs in the grounds where Harry Potter had his first flying lesson, and it's free, though you need a time-slot ticket. It suits families, history fans and film fans. One visitor review says the castle took them an entire day to see.

Tip: Broomstick Training needs a time-slot ticket, and Alnwick Castle tickets don't include The Alnwick Garden, which has its own website.

Lindisfarne Castle is a 16th-century fort on Holy Island, reached across a tidal causeway. In 1901 Sir Edwin Lutyens turned it into an Arts and Crafts home, and inside you can see the stone vaults of the old Tudor gun battery. Outside, upturned boats serve as sheds, and there's a walled garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll.

Head up to the Upper Battery, where volunteers have scopes for spotting seals on the rocks. Families can pick up a free I Spy trail, play hide and seek in the 19th-century limekilns, or walk the short circular route around the headland. There are picnic tables, deckchairs and a grassy bank with views towards the Farne Islands. It suits families, walkers and anyone who likes a castle with a bit of coast and nature around it.

Tip: Check the safe causeway crossing times before you travel, then park in the main island car park. The castle is a one-mile walk each way, and the approach is up steep cobbles, so wear sturdy footwear.

The Alnwick Garden is a contemporary garden in the heart of Northumberland, next to Alnwick Castle. It was revived at the turn of the 21st century after years of neglect, and is laid out around a central water cascade. You can lose yourself in the Bamboo Labyrinth, stroll the traditional Ornamental Garden and Rose Garden, or gaze at the Grand Cascade.

The Poison Garden is the big draw. It holds more than 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants, including hemlock, foxglove and deadly nightshade, and it is seen on a guided tour where the guides tell gory stories about poison and murder. The garden is a registered charity, and any surplus goes back into the garden and local communities.

Tip: The Poison Garden is only visited on a guided tour, so check the garden's website for tour details before you go.

Floors Castle is the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Despite the name it is an estate house rather than a fortress, designed by William Adam in the 1720s and later given its turrets and battlements by William Playfair. It stands by the River Tweed with views over the Cheviot Hills, and the grounds are on Scotland's national inventory of gardens and designed landscapes.

Inside, you can see the castle's collections and learn about the Innes-Ker family, whose story runs from Border bandits to stewards of the land. Outside, the four-acre Walled Garden is an RHS Partner Garden, with herbaceous borders, glasshouses, a Victorian kitchen garden and a formal Millennium Garden with a French-style parterre. There are also woodland and riverside walks around the Roxburghe Estate, a play area, cafés and shops.

Tip: Different parts of the estate open at different times, so check the Floors Castle website for what is open and how to enter before you set off.

Dunstanburgh Castle is a spectacular ruin on the rugged Northumberland coast, begun in 1313 by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, a rival of Edward II. It is the largest castle in Northumberland, and its Great Gatehouse is still hugely imposing. You can explore the whole headland, with its towered walls and sheer drops to the sea on the north side.

Most people arrive on foot from the village of Craster. The 1.3-mile route follows the coast and crosses working farmland, so follow the Countryside Code and keep an eye out for livestock. The castle is also known for wildlife: seabirds nest on the cliffs in spring and summer, and skylarks nest in the grassland. There is a legend-building trail too, one of English Heritage's World Builder Challenge trails. Bring a camera, as the setting is a big part of the appeal.

Tip: Walk in from Craster along the 1.3-mile coastal path, and wear sturdy footwear as it crosses working farmland.

Warkworth Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Northumberland, sitting in a loop of the River Coquet less than a mile from the coast. It was long the residence of the powerful Percy family, and the imposing keep was added in the late 14th century. English Heritage has cared for the site since 1984.

Five colour-coded trails, with listening posts and symbols, guide you into every corner of the castle, each ending at a sculpture linked to the castle's history. There is also an audio tour of the Great Tower, taking you from the wine cellars and kitchens to the great hall and chapel. The Duke's Rooms in the tower are regularly open with volunteer guides. Nearby, a riverside walk and a ferry lead to the Hermitage, a tiny rock-cut chapel.

Tip: To visit the Hermitage, go to the castle first to secure your place, as tickets are limited and only sold on the day. Dogs are not allowed at the Hermitage.