IF you're looking for a weekend away that's a real break from the pressures of daily life then head north to Upper Teesdale in County Durham.

And if you love driving, you'll be in heaven because there are some great open roads, through dramatic scenery – and they're so empty, too.

Tempted? You should be; but where to lay your head?

A wide choice of accommodation is available, ranging from homely farmhouses to some fine hotels and not forgetting the many youth hostels in the area.

But for those who love a good drive on the golf course as much as good driving roads there is really no contest.

The winner is De Vere's Slaley Hall Hotel, near Hexham, which has splendid golf facilities as well as being exceedingly well situated for exploring both the North Pennines and the beautiful coastline of Northumberland.

It's also convenient for retail therapy and entertainment with Newcastle being just a 30-minute drive away.

I was driven by the force, High Force, England's highest waterfall in Upper Teesdale, which is just a short drive from Slaley Hall.

At the end of last year my wife and I had taken the short woodland walk from the High Force Hotel on the road from Middleton-in-Teesdale to the viewing point at the base of the waterfall, but this time we wanted to stride out on the Pennine Way on the other bank and to watch the water crashing down from a more dramatic lofty viewpoint.

A severe change in the weather meant that we did not walk as far on the Pennine Way as planned, but it did mean that we had more time for discovering more delights of this hill dramatic country.

The high road from High Force takes you over the roof of this beautiful region. As a sign on the B6277 road proclaims: "Welcome to the Hills of the North." And what a welcome it is.

The road twists and turns past deep moorland gulleys with extensive views across the moors. A turn to the left takes you to Cow Green Reservoir, which is well worth a diversion and from where, if you have time, you can also visit Cauldron Snout where the River Tees cascades over a series of rocky steps.

The road descends into Alston in Cumbria, which lays claim to being the highest market settlement in England at about 1000 feet above sea level.

It's the starting point for the narrow gauge South Tynedale Railway following part of the old Haltwhistle to Alston branch line of British Railways along the Tyne Valley for about two miles.

From Alston you can take the A686 from Penrith in Cumbria to Corbridge in Northumberland, which was chosen by the AA Magazine as one of their Ten Great Drives.

This climbs the Hartside Pass to a height of 1904ft between Alston and Melmerby, from where there are magnificent views across the Solway Firth to Scotland.

This long and steep climb also forms part of the Sea to Sea Cycle Route.

I chose to do an about-turn in the town to tackle another high-level route over the North Pennines using the A689.

This takes you past the informative Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre and then through Upper Weardale.

There is a wonderful view down the valley at a high point just outside Alston, as the picture here shows.

The height of the snow poles beside the road indicate the harshness of the winters in these parts.