All not too far from your route Scunner - Alnwick castle,Alnwick Gardens,Hadrians wall,Bamburgh Castle,Seahouses,Holy Island,Cragside,Cambois Village,Wallington Hall,Hexham,Corbridge.All very beautiful ,historic houses ,gardens and villages.A bus top sight seeing tour of Newcastle also takes in the history and architecture of the city not just the shops and bars normally associated with the Toon.
Then of course theres the Angel of the North,The Sage Music centre,centre for life,millenium bridge,Newcastle Quayside and Gods own St James park rises majestically over the city !
Hope this helps Keith,when are you coming down ?