Fancy crossing the River Tyne in style? On a zip-wire? You can do just that on Saturday 23rd September or Friday 27th October! You’ll be travelling at speeds of up to 40 mph from a height of 45 metres, from the roof of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The zip wire is 280 metres long. The only decision you’ll have to make is: shall I zip by day or by night?

Take part in the Marine Conservation Society’s annual beach clean at Cresswell on Friday 15th September. All you need is sturdy footwear and protection from the elements (wind or sun). Equipment will be provided, including gloves and litter pickers. All the data collected will go towards a report on the state of marine litter on beaches around Britain.

Murder she wrote! What happens when forensic science and crime writing collide? Find out at the Alnwick Garden on the 16th September when best-selling crime fiction author Ann Cleeves (of ITV’s ‘Vera’), forensic expert Professor Lorna Dawson and Professor of Forensic Pathology James Grieve get together to talk about the facts and fiction behind crime writing. Meet all three at this book-signing event. Booking essential.

Calling all foodies! Following on from last year’s success, the Alnwick Food Festival will take place on Saturday/Sunday 16th/17th September and promises to be bigger and better than before. Delights will include chef demonstrations, street food, and a wealth of local fresh produce – from jams, sauces and pickles to artisan breads, cakes, cheeses, meats and confectionary. There’s also plenty of family entertainment, including a funfair, face-painting and alpacas!

Have you ever wanted to take pictures of objects in space like the ones you see in magazines and on websites? Well, now is your chance! Get along to the Kielder Observatory on Sunday 17th September (other dates available, see Kielder Observatory website) and you’ll be shown how to take amazing images using something as simple as your mobile phone. No specialist knowledge is required. It’s just a great chance for budding imagers to take shots under some of the darkest skies in the whole of Europe. Booking essential.

Visit the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Amble, on 16th/17th September to celebrate the wonderful wildlife of Northumberland. It’s a free event. Just drop in during the day. The weekend will be packed full of wildlife activities for young and old, including wildlife spotting, guided walks, treasure hunt, animal footprint plaster casts, plus a tombola, raffle and much more.

If you love the music of the Seventies and fancy taking a trip down memory lane, get yourself along to the Maltings Theatre & Arts Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed on Saturday 16th September for an evening of glam rock through to new wave music and everything in between. ‘The Counterfeit Seventies’ show is sure to get you all nostalgic for Slade and The Bay City Rollers!