North East staycation has everything you want

The North East is one part of the UK that I keep going back to for holidays close to home.

- 

It’s got everything you could want for a staycation - fantastic beaches and walks, luxurious hotels and an increasing array of highly-regarded fine dining restaurants.

From the wild sandy dunes of Northumberland to Newcastle's bustling Quayside, one of England’s most underrated regions is ideal for families or couples.

And it’s so close to North Yorkshire, making it the perfect destination for a long weekend.

In the spring sunshine, I'm keen to indulge in the North East's vibrant and diverse food scene.

Ever since James Close shut his two-Michelin starred restaurant The Raby Hunt, near Darlington, and moved to become culinary director at nearby five-star hotel Rockliffe Hall (www.rockliffehall. com), I have been desperate to try his new venture.