Sunday in the North East - A Guide to the Best Brunches, Sunday Roasts, Scenic Walks and Pamper Days

If I say "Sunday" to you what immediately springs to mind? Long walks with the family? Delicious Sunday lunches? Brunch with friends? For me the last day of the weekend is all about really getting the most out of the day and I love to enjoy Sunday in the North East before the reality of Monday morning hits.

Traditionally Sundays are all about pottering about, eating loads of satisfying food and enjoying quality time with your loved ones so today I thought I'd share with you my favourite ways to spend Sunday in the North East with a little guide to the best places for brunch, Sunday roasts, scenic walks and pamper days.

Sunday Brunch

Nothing starts off Sunday better than a long leisurely Sunday brunch! Over order, grab the Sunday papers and get ready to indulge in bottomless cups of coffee and pancake stacks! There are so many fantastic places in the North East to treat yourself to an amazing brunch, here's just a few of my favourites:

Filmore & Union - If you really fancy a lighter Sunday Brunch after a heavy weekend then Filmore & Union in Newcastle is where you need to head. Their dishes are prepared using fresh food, healthier cooking techniques and without any hidden nasties but still taste delicious! The menu has every breakfast dish you could possibly imagine including omelettes, pancakes, French Toast and scrambled eggs.

Monsieur Creperie  - If you need a bit of sugar after a heavy Saturday night then a Sunday Brunch at the Monsieur Crepe Cafe in Heaton will hit the spot. Offering the best variety of pancake stacks and crepes in the North East their menu is the thing of dreams. Indulge in Chocolate Crunchie and Marshamallow , Peach and White Chocolate or perhaps my favourite, Banana, Ginger Crumb and Salted Caramel (don't worry they do savoury too, I just have a sweet tooth!)

Cafe Royal - Cafe Royal in Newcastle have the finest collection of egg dishes in the North East, perfect for a Sunday morning. Tuck into Softly Poached Lintz Hall Farm Eggs, Scrambled Eggs with Hot Smoked Salmon or Eggs Benedict with a side dose of great people watching (just make sure you bag yourself a sunny seat by the window!)

Scenic Walks

I could quite literally sit here all day listing off my favourite scenic walks in the North East for a Sunday stroll, the options are endless and I'm not sure we'll ever make our way round them all. Here are a small selection of our favourites, perfect for a post Sunday brunch stroll:

South Shields to Sunderland Coastal Path - the 7 mile walk between South Shields and Sunderland is the most fantastic stretch of North East coastline. With beautiful views of Souter Lighthouse and plenty of places to stop along the way (there's a National Trust cafe for a scone, a chance for a cheeky pint at Marsden Grotto and plenty of fish and chip restaurants at Seaburn) it ticks every box.

High Force Waterfall - you'll find High Force Waterfall in the beautiful North Pennines - miles of winding roads surrounded by wild moors, wandering sheep and huge hills, it's quite the place for a Sunday afternoon adventure with plenty of walks to choose from.

Hadrian's Wall - Hadrian's Wall has to be the most popular walking destination in the North East and it's easy to see why, the countryside at the Wall is stunning and on a clear day you can see for miles. There are endless walks to choose from so you can make it as short or as long as you like - perfect for both beginners and pro walkers.

Sunday Roasts

Fighting with your Dad over the gravy jug, kicking your little sister under the table and secretly hoping your Grandma won't be able to fit in her Yorkshire Pudding, there's no better way to enjoy Sunday as a family than with a delicious Sunday Roast. We're still working our way round all of the fantastic lunches available in the North East, but here are a few of our current favourites:

The Badger, Ponteland - A traditional country pub steeped in history, The Badger in Ponteland offer a full and weekly changing Sunday menu that'll have you struggling to make a decision. All roasts are served with Duck Fat Roasties, Yorkshires and plenty of veg - just make sure you leave room for the delicious desserts.

Pleased to Meet You, Newcastle - One of the best offerings in Newcastle, Sunday Roasts at Pleased to Meet You involves plates piled high with delicious cuts of meat, colourful veg and Yorkshires as large as my head. The dishes are so huge we've not been able to fit in dessert yet!

The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland - Sunday Lunch at the Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland is a little different as all of the food is shared with the rest of the table. Each table gets all three starters followed by a platter of three meats and then three desserts. Perfect for the indecisive, the sharing lunch is so much fun and offers the rare opportunity to try everything!

Pamper Days

If your perfect Sunday involves doing not a lot then booking yourself in for a spa day can be a great treat before you head back to work.

The Garage Spa, Greta Bridge - a beautiful rural haven, The Garage Spa is small and perfectly formed with some lovely unique features. Enjoy a sauna in a Shepherd's Hut, jump into a huge outdoor tin bath hot tub and lounge in the hammock chairs of the secret garden - bliss!

Rockliffe Hall, Darlington - the outstanding facilities at Rockliffe Hall make it one of our favourite spas in the North East, enjoy the Roman Sauna, cool down in the Igloo, grab a drink from the poolside bar and spend some time in the outdoor hot tub before indulging in a foot spa - the perfect way to forget about Monday.

Wynyard Hall - the spa at Wynyard Hall only allows a few people to use its facilities at a time ensuring a truly peaceful experience. Enjoy the lakeside hot tub, have an afternoon tea in the stunning conservatory or indulge in a treatment before a spot of sunbathing on the sun loungers.

What's your idea of a perfect Sunday? Let me know some of your favourite things to do!