In the opening episode, they visit Lindisfarne, home to important monuments, heritage crafts and rare wildlife. After visiting the historic castle, the Bakers get a taste of island life at Lindisfarne's only distillery, and investigate the traditions behind its upturned herring boat huts. Janice helps out in a walled garden created by a trailblazing female horticulturist.

The Bakers are given a special tour of James Herriot's home by his son Jim, and Matt takes to the skies for a stunning aerial view of the county by glider. Janice meets the town's yarn-bombing guerrilla knitters and visits a stunning lavender farm with Matt. Finally, the Bakers take in what Herriot dubbed the finest view in England, at Sutton Bank.

The Bakers are greeted by the Duchess of Northumberland on a visit to Alnwick Castle, where Matt is granted special access to the records tower, which holds precious documents detailing its role in major historical events. Janice follows in the footsteps of the castle's archers of old, trying her hand with a bow and arrow in the grounds, and the family meet the Duke's official piper for the ultimate lesson on the ancient Northumbrian pipes.

Matt, Mike and Janice head to County Durham's Bowes Museum, where they pick an ancient artwork to hang on the walls and bring a marvellous mechanical swan back to life.

The Bakers explore Northumberland's Ford and Etal estates, where they meet a flock of rare four-horned Hebridean sheep and help maintain one of the country's few working watermills. Janice hitches a lift in a sidecar during a vintage motorcycle run, and the family gets up close and personal with the residents at one of the north of England's largest stables of heavy horses.