The northern part of England up to the Scottish border consists largely of national parks and is relatively sparsely populated. Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle are the largest cities in this area. If you come from mainland Europe, you will arrive in Newcastle upon Tyne by ferry. After exiting the Ferry you drive straight into busy Newcastle and you can get used to driving on the left at a few roundabouts.

The route first follows the east coast to the very beautiful lighthouse St. Mary's Lighthouse. St Mary's Lighthouse is located on tiny St Mary's Island, just north of Whitley Bay on the coast of North East England. The small rocky tidal island is connected to the mainland by a short concrete embankment that is submerged at high tide.
Well worth a stop and take a few pictures. It can even be visited at low tide.

Just after the lighthouse you will drive past Seaton Delaval Hall. Seaton Delaval Hall is a Grade I listed country house in Northumberland, England. It is close to the coast, just north of Newcastle upon Tyne. Located between Seaton Sluice and Seaton Delaval, it was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1718 for Admiral George Delaval; it is now owned by the National Trust. It can be visited and otherwise it will at least provide a nice picture.

After this you leave the coast and dive inland. Initially via the outskirts of Newcastle and various villages, but soon you are driving in the countryside. After approximately 40 miles and 1.5 hours you will pass the River North Tyne which, together with the South Tyne, flows into the River Tyne from which Newcastle takes its name. Just over the bridge is a gas station with a Tearoom with delicious cakes.

You also pass the Hadrian Wall or the remains of it here. Hadrian's Wall was built under Hadrian, Emperor of Rome from 117 to 138 AD. The emperor wanted to personally inspect his military apparatus throughout the empire and get to know the provinces themselves. That is why he traveled throughout the Roman Empire since 121. After a visit to Britannia, he had the 117 km long wall built there from 122 to 128, which served as part of the limes (fortified border line of the empire, including Vindolanda) until the end of the 4th century. The wall ran from Newcastle upon Tyne to the west coast at Carlisle. Just after the Tearoom you drive past the Chester Roman Fort Museum where you can learn more about the history of the area.

The route continues to the north-west and gets more and more hilly. At the beginning of the lake Kielder Water you have a beautiful view of the area, you can also plan a stop here for lunch.
Unfortunately you do not always have a view of the water on the road along the large lake. After Kielder Water you suddenly find yourself at the Scottish border, but you won't notice anything outside of a sign. Here are especially many forests and fields. The roads gradually get a bit dull as we approach the west coast. Here is the city of Carlisle, but before we drive here you can take a trip to the coast to see the foothills of the Atlantic Ocean. If you don't feel like turning this more than at the large roundabout to Carlisle city center. There are plenty of hotels here to find a place to stay. The city itself offers a beautiful old town with many restaurants, shops and even a fortress. If you are in Carlisle a bit earlier than planned, there is plenty to see to entertain you for part of the afternoon.

I give this route 4 stars because of the attractive surroundings, beautiful sights and the excellent roads.