During a global pandemic that has forced us into isolation like none of us have ever known it, the urge to escape to find some inner peace can be overwhelming. Alas, travelling far, these days, is severely limited. So, armed with a Railcard and a determination to learn more about the Northeast before I graduate, I decided that in 2020, I would find peaceful spots in the areas surrounding Durham, Newcastle, and North Yorkshire (where I spent the 2020 lockdown). Granted, these explorations mostly took place over late spring and summer in 2020, before the word “variant” had crossed most of our minds. But still – I am greatly looking forward to revisiting all of these spots as soon as restrictions are relaxed enough to do so.