Strangely I have always found the people in N East really welcoming!
Gill and I regularly go to Stockton-on-Tees (Swallow Hotel on the main street) as we like the people and the area so much! The coast road further up from Newcastle to Alnwick is stunning!
Just to balance things we also love our annual 3-day break to Oban which we do this time of the year as we think that area has a certain beauty in the winter.
Ian
Ps still believe "you can always tell a Yorkshireman - but you can't tell him owt!"