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Woodhorn Museum
For most of the 20th century this was a busy coal mine. Nearly 2000 men worked to extract 600,000 tons per year. A recent redevelopment transformed the place into a museum. One of the new additions was the breathtaking Cutter Building, designed and named after the monstrous coal cutting machines that were used deep underground. Inside, a series of exhibitions look at the area's history and heritage. Next door, the old engine houses are kept in antique condition. The long, thin workshops, meanwhile, have been converted into more functional spaces. The site has hosted a variety of guest exhibitions, from celebrity cars to Wallace and Gromit memorabilia. However, the main focus is always on the miners. Woodhorn uses the latest technology to recreate the confined, sweaty conditions they had to endure.
Grace Darling Museum
In 1838, a young 22-year-old called Grace Darling risked her life in a frail row boat to rescue a shipwreck's desperate survivors. This museum, set up a century later, pays tribute to her courageous deed. As well as telling the tale of that fateful day, there are collections of Grace's clothes, letters and photographs. The centrepieces of the exhibit are a 2.5 metre replica of the Darling family's lighthouse, and the actual boat the rescue was conducted in. The museum is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, for whom Grace is something of a hero.
Bellingham Heritage Centre
The creators of this museum are fascinated with the area they live in. Their heritage centre looks at its entire history, from old conflicts to new railways. Along the way it shows how Northumberland's residents lived and worked, whether it was on a farm or inside a coal mine. A collection of 2600 photographs documents the area's transformation since the early 20th century. The museum has even asked the locals themselves to recount wistful tales of life as it once was.
Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum
Through much of the 20th century, a clock-maker called William Alfred Cocks amassed a huge collection of old and rare bagpipes. His hobby became the foundation of this unusual museum in Morpeth, which focuses entirely on the traditional Scottish instrument. There are examples from places as far away as India. Visitors can listen to the bagpipes' distinctive music through sets of personal headphones. The 13th century church building provides an appropriately elegant setting for this unique exhibition.
Roman Vindolanda
Vindolanda was an important Roman fort near the Scottish border. In recent years the site turned into a huge archaeological dig. Over many decades, these excavations have unearthed thousands of items, teaching us a lot about how the Romans lived. This on-site museum displays these valuable finds, including tools, textiles and pottery. The collection of leather is the largest in the world. The most precious artefacts are the 2000-year-old writing tablets. Most are military documents, although others seem to be shopping lists or party invitations! Some are on display, but the majority are now housed at the British Museum. Elsewhere at Vindolanda are recreations of a Roman temple, a shop and a home. Meanwhile, the archaeological digs still happen every year, so more treasures may yet be found!
Cherryburn
In 1753, the delightfully-named Cherryburn cottage was the birthplace of Thomas Bewick. He grew up to become a wood engraver, a naturalist and arguably Northumberland's greatest artist. The building is owned by the National Trust, who display it to the public. A nearby farmhouse, which was also inhabited by the Bewick family, showcases his life and work. The engraving demonstrations show how Thomas created his pieces, and the shop sells replicas of the finished products. Outside, there's a farmyard full of friendly animals. The River Tyne passes nearby, before winding its way on through the pretty countryside that the Bewicks loved so much.