Just off one of the cobbled streets in the market town of Hexham is this artisan bakery and bun shop. Baking everything from rye to sourdough to cardamom buns and marmalades, pop on by to grab your loaf to accompany that English brekky.

Alex Nietosvuori has brought a taste of Scandinavia to this somewhat-rural part of the North East. Hjem may have a homely feel, apt for its name, though the food is extraordinary. A tasting menu of dreams, see the table transform to a fika feast at the end of the meal. Fika: Nietosvuori's way at least. 

There's no question when you're roaming the fields and moors of Blanchland, a post-walk pint and drink is essential. Stop by the Lord Crewe for a "Crewe Brew" and a hearty pub lunch. 

A family-owned Cumbrian pub set within the village of Skelton does what British pubs do best: hearty fare, well-pulled pints, and a terrifically cosy atmosphere. But unlike the village pub institutions, this one is a five-year holder of a well-deserved Michelin Star. Seasonal ingredients dictate the menu, though their assortment of pies – whether a traditional steak and local ale, or Torpenhow cheddar, leek, and potato – stealsl the show. The whole Dover sole, soaked in spinach and caper butter, is another standout. Don’t skip dessert; the puddings are the real treat.