Places to visit in the Tees Valley

Start by stepping back in time – to 1816, to be precise – when the HMS Trincomalee was built. One of the oldest ships afloat in Europe is housed at the award-winning National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool, a reproduction of an 18th-century seaport, where you can see how sailors lived 200 years ago. If you like your attractions on the noisy side, stay for the live cannon and musket firing demonstrations.

If all that maritime flavour has you thirsting for rum, slide by Wallis & Co, which is also on the marina. The variety of rums here would satisfy the thirstiest sailor while the laid-back Mediterranean-style decor and menus will warm you up no matter the weather. Suitably seaside dishes include steamed Shetland mussels and pan-fried king scallops.

This traditional beach scenario is enough to have you knotting a handkerchief to pop on your head. Wide sweep of sandy beach, tick; arcades, tick; fish and chips, tick; and then there are the candy-coloured beach huts. Soak up the North Sea area with a walk from Hartlepool Marina to the Tees Estuary and the Blue Lagoon Beach. What more could you ask for?

Spot skylarks, hot-pink orchids and adorable grey seals lounging on the mud flats at this unusual beauty spot near Hartlepool Power Station. Sprawling across 140 hectares (350 acres) between North Gare and Seal Sands, Teesmouth National Nature Reserve also attracts migratory ducks and waders. If you feel inspired to get involved, voluntary help on the site is always welcome.

Hunker down for the night at Wren, a luxe treehouse on the banks of Hurworth Burn Reservoir at Wingate. This wood-clad Grand Designs-style retreat includes a balcony with a hot tub you can soak in under the stars. Add in the surround-sound music system and access to nearby woodland walks and it's a keeper (for one night, at least). Eco points for heat pumps, Passivhaus Standard construction, entirely local welcome pack and organic and ethically sourced toiletries.

A Parliamentary stronghold during the English Civil War, this 14th-century castle near Darlington has many strings to its bow. For starters, it’s framed by a spruce-and fir-filled Christmas tree plantation, then there are the meticulously maintained Walled Gardens and wildlife-rich Deer Park. Don’t miss the conservatory-style Vinery cafe’s treats, inspired by or produced on the estate, from local sausage sandwiches to afternoon tea with scones, cream and jam.

Keeping things water-based while you visit the Tees Valley, it’s on to the Tees Barrage International White Water Centre at Stockton-on-Tees. Weave through the waves with this adrenaline-fuelled activity and conquer the biggest artificial drop in the UK. If the mere thought leaves you cold, opt for alternative experiences such as paddleboarding, kayaking or raft-building instead.

It’s mere minutes to your next stop. Be sure to bring your binoculars, as this wetland nature reserve is home to wildlife worth watching. Due to the volume and sheer variety of waders, Portrack Marsh in the heart of Teesside is a designated SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). It's also home to mammals, amphibians, insects and wildflowers.

You've earned some deeper relaxation, which you’ll find at Rockliffe Hall Spa. Yes, there's an indoor pool, igloo and high-humidity tropicarium, but the real star of the show here is the outdoor Spa Garden, decked out with a hot tub and glass-fronted sauna for scenic countryside views while you soak. Don't look at the treatment menus or you'll never leave…

Savour the high life at The Bay Horse. This refurbished 15th-century coaching inn goes all out to charm, with a cosy open fire and menus that garnered a Michelin Bib Gourmand. When fancy food such as pan-fried bream with crispy squid, butternut squash, spinach and apple dressing makes you sleepy, nip next door to Keepers Cottage. This wood-panelled hideaway sleeps two in style, with floral wallpaper and a roll-top bath for soaking the day away.

Get off to a cultural start by browsing the seasonal exhibitions and community-focused initiatives at MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), which is handily located smack in the middle of Middlesbrough. Part of Teesside University, the glassy building also houses the Middlesbrough Collection, a permanent display that highlights the influence and use of arts and crafts in the town.

For a break from urban life, head to Guisborough Forest on the northern edge of the North York Moors National Park. Here, you'll be soothed by a combination of woodland, wetlands and grasslands. Cyclists can follow the bike trails and pedestrians can admire the sculpture trail while drinking in the views over Tees Valley and the coast.

Up your fish and chips game at the aptly named Seaview Restaurant in Saltburn, overlooking a stretch of golden sand. Starring local ingredients sourced from sustainable suppliers, much of the menu is dictated by the catch of the day. Soak up the shoreline views through floor-to-ceiling windows or outside on the balcony. Just look out for greedy seagulls swooping down.

Now get back to nature at Hummersea, an unspoilt stretch of coast just to the north of Loftus, a charming market town. Seabirds nest in the wildflower-topped cliffs and the beach below can be reached by several flights of steep wooden steps. Near the bottom, the remains of an alum house are visible, a reminder of the region’s intriguing history of alum production.

You've earned a rest, so it's time to head inland and check into North Shire, a family-run farm and campsite in Liverton, with an eclectic collection of places to stay including the Ground Keepers Cottage. This lantern-lit gothic fantasy blends medieval-style turrets, a large copper bath and mismatched stained-glass windows overlooking the Yorkshire coast. Harry Potter fans will be bewitched. Don’t miss the cute miniature ponies grazing in the field.