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Just three hours by train from King's Cross lies one of the UK's least crowded counties. No airport queues, no connecting flights and no packed tourist hotspots – just dramatic coastline, ancient castles and some of the finest driving roads in Britain.
Northumberland is not short on landscape or history, but it is short on people. That combination is increasingly rare. For travellers used to European short-haul luxury breaks, it also presents something unexpected: space to drive.
Not the congested, stop-start kind of driving that defines much of the UK, but long, open roads linking coast, forest and borderland in a way that feels almost continental in scale. Many driving enthusiasts regard Northumberland as home to some of Britain's finest roads, where traffic is sparse and the scenery changes dramatically from one valley to the next.
It is here that Overland Adventures operates, offering self-drive expeditions in classic Land Rover Defender 110s equipped for multi-day travel. Based in Northumberland and featured on the BBC's Weekend Escapes, the company provides a straightforward way to explore the region. Guests can be met at regional airports and railway stations before setting off on a suggested route through the county's most spectacular landscapes.
Northumberland's appeal is partly geographic. It is England's northernmost county, bordered by Scotland and defined by a coastline protected as a National Landscape and home to Bamburgh, repeatedly voted Britain's best seaside destination. Inland, the landscape shifts quickly into rolling farmland, deep forests and the open expanses of Northumberland National Park.
One of the most established driving routes is the Northumberland 250, a circular loop linking coastal roads, castles, historic market towns and remote interior stretches. It can be followed loosely, adapted to suit individual interests, or ignored entirely.
History is never far away. Northumberland is home to more castles than any other county in England, from the imposing stronghold at Bamburgh to the atmospheric ruins that punctuate the coastline and borderlands. The county is also home to Hadrian's Wall, the largest surviving Roman monument anywhere in the former Roman Empire, stretching coast-to-coast across northern England and serving as a reminder of the region's strategic importance for nearly two millennia.
Bamburgh Castle remains one of the most striking coastal landmarks in the UK, positioned above a vast stretch of sand that often feels surprisingly quiet even in summer. Further north, the tidal causeway to Holy Island is only accessible at certain times of day, reinforcing the sense that travel here is still dictated by tide and terrain rather than timetables.
The county's appeal extends beyond scenery and history. Northumberland has established itself as one of the country's most rewarding foodie destinations, with renowned seafood restaurants, Michelin-starred dining and a growing collection of independent breweries producing award-winning ales and craft beers.
Inland, Kielder Forest dominates the landscape. It is the largest man-made forest in England and one of the most remote-feeling areas in the country, with roads that can run for miles without passing through a settlement.
Nearby Kielder Water adds further scale, while Northumberland National Park's designation as an International Dark Sky Park makes it one of Europe's finest destinations for stargazing.
This is where the Defender comes into its own. The vehicles used by Overland Adventures are not modern luxury SUVs but classic Land Rover Defender 110s, restored and equipped for extended travel. Guests are not tied to fixed accommodation or strict timetables; instead, the emphasis is on flexibility and exploring beyond the usual tourist trail.
Reviews from past guests focus on the drive experienced in an iconic Defender and on what the format enables: unplanned stops, time outdoors and the freedom to explore beyond the usual tourist trail.
And while Northumberland is not remote in any literal sense – Newcastle is less than an hour from much of the route – it often feels disconnected in a way that is increasingly difficult to find in Britain.
That is perhaps its real appeal. Not exclusivity in the traditional sense, but the opportunity to explore a part of England that remains refreshingly untouched by mass tourism.
For those willing to travel north, the reward is not a curated version of the countryside. It is the countryside, left largely to itself.
See more at overland-adventures.co.uk
