The way history combines with beautiful rural settings is one of the great attractions of the North-East. Former editor of The Northern Echo, Peter Barron, selects his top six heritage sites in the countryside.

1. Penshaw Monument

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Otherwise known as The Earl of Durham's monument, this landmark folly is 70 feet high and offers stunning views across the countryside, as far afield as Durham Cathedral and the North Pennines.

It was built in 1844 in memory of the first Earl of Durham, John George Lambton, and is the setting for the famous North-East legend of The Lambton Worm.

Generations of children have been told the tale of the worm, which was caught during a fishing trip, but went on to become a monster which ate cattle, sheep and even children before being slain.

Dominating the landscape on a limestone hill between Washington and Houghton-le-Spring, Penshaw Monument is a half-sized replica of The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens and was officially handed over to the National Trust in 1939.

It can be reached by an easy 2.6-mile walk, starting and ending at the bottom of Penshaw Hill, just off the A183. It can blow hard up there so wrap up well in good quality country clothes.

2. Captain Cook's Monument

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Erected in 1827 by Whitby banker Robert Campion, the monument commemorates the area's most famous son, Captain James Cook.

The legendary explorer, born at Marton in 1728, made the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as making the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand.

The monument stands at 324 metres on the peak of a hill on Easby Moor, in the North York Moors National Park, and offers panoramic views of the Cleveland Hills, across to Roseberry Topping.

Overlooking the villages of Easby and Great Ayton, the monument is a feature of The Cleveland Way's long distance national trail.

3. Hadrian's Wall

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One of the icons of history-based tourism in Britain, Hadrian's Wall is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the banks of the River Tyne to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea, the 73-mile wall passes through beautiful and rugged landscape.

In 2003, a National Trail footpath was opened, allowing walkers to follow the line of the wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway. To protect the countryside, walkers are asked to only follow the path in the summer.

Not only is it a beautiful walk but it is the setting for some of our most fascinating history, dating back to Hadrian's arrival on our shores in AD122.

He was the first to build a wall from sea to sea "to separate the barbarians from the Romans". It was a decision which was to give the North-East of England one of the jewels in its tourism crown.

4. Fountains Abbey

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ANOTHER World Heritage site on our doorstep, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden are not only steeped in history but combine as a peaceful and beautiful place to visit.

The abbey, near Ripon, dates back to 1132 when 13 monks came to North Yorkshire in search of a simpler life. They left behind the most complete Cistercian abbey remains in Britain when Henry VIII demanded the closure of the building.

John Aislabie inherited the Studley Royal estate  in 1693 and decided to transform the wild and wooded valley of the River Skell into one of the most spectacular Georgian water gardens in the country.

For wildlife enthusiasts, there are also more than 500 wild, Red, Fallow and Sika deer on the estate.

  • Please note that De Grey's Walk, the riverside path between the abbey and the water garden closed for conservation work on January 16 and is not expected to reopen for ten weeks.

5. Dunstanburgh Castle

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Bamburgh Castle is probably the best known image from the Northumberland coastline but my personal favourite walk in that stunning part of the world is from Dunstanburgh to Craster.

Start off from Dunstanburgh Golf Course and follow the seaside path towards the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, which was initially built in 1313 by Earl Thomas of Lancaster. Following the earl's execution, the castle eventually passed to John of Gaunt who strengthened it against the Scots. It fell into decay after the War of the Roses.

Once past the castle, head along the clifftop to Craster - famous for its kippers - and enjoy a well-earned drink in the Jolly Fisherman.

6. Middleham

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IT is my love of horse racing which lures me back to Middleham time and time again.

The historic racing town in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is where Dante was trained to win the 1945 Derby and Captain Neville Crump turned out three Grand National winners in Sheila's Cottage (1948), Teal (1952), and Merryman II (1960).

Racing was established on the High Moor as far back as 1739 but there is plenty to attract visitors to Middleham apart from horses.

The Wensleydale market town is surrounded by stunning countryside and boasts a castle which was the childhood home of Richard III.