Thanks to a surprising summer of sunshine, the region has even more to offer those who like to spend their breaks surrounded by fishing twine and fresh catch, making it the perfect time to plan a fisherman’s tour of the North.

Start your trip at Craster, or even further north at Seahouses, and sample the best smoked kippers the coast has to offer. Pitch up a little down the coast in the small village of Alnmouth and cast off the bridge to find flounder all year round, and eels June through to October.  You’ll need lightweight tackle as the river is narrow, and you’ll only need to hike your bait a little distance to land it in the middle of the flow. Don’t forget to take an umbrella and chair too, there’s currently a nice selection over at Decathlon nestled among their fishing collection.

Once you’ve landed your catch, head over to nearby Alnwick and take in some magic of a different kind. Home of the castle featured in the Harry Potter films, Alnwick boasts a fantastic selection of restaurants and pubs, including the Treehouse restaurant in Alnwick gardens.

If you like to eat fish as well as catch it, head a little farther down the coast to Amble where you’ll discover the excellent Old Boat House restaurant, which nestles inside the towns old RNLI building. Not long opened, this little gem has been receiving some rave reviews thanks to its simple menu, which takes full advantage of the fresh local catch as well as local produce. Stay in one of the town’s B&Bs, many of which look out on to the harbour, and book yourself on to a puffin cruise to get closer to other local wildlife. If you’d like to fit in some fishing, you can charter yourself a boat or try fishing for mackerel and flatties off the side of the pier.

For those who want to take a taste of the North home from their travels, but haven’t left enough room in their suitcase, it’s possible to order Craster kippers online to last you until your next trip.