The North East of England has one of the most beautiful and varied landscapes in the UK, with striking coastlines, ancient forests and rolling hills.

A third of the North East is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Park, and there are nine forests and 28 castles and Roman forts - in fact the North East has more castles than any other English region.

The region also has a rich culture and heritage, with 65 museums and art galleries, and the world-famous heritage sites Hadrian's Wall, Lindisfarne on Holy Island, and Durham Cathedral.

Driving the modern dynamism of the North East are three large cosmopolitan cities: Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne and Middlesbrough.

As well as offering some additional options for shopping, sport and social activities, all three cities offer excellent career opportunities for graduates.

Local multinational businesses include Nissan, Sage, Rolls-Royce, Berghaus, Northern Rock, RSA Insurance Group, Barbour, Greggs, Arriva plc, BAE Systems, Siemens Power Generation, Findus, Nike and Nestlé.

The North East is also a great place for graduates to set up a business. It's the most inventive region in the UK, generating more patents per person per pound invested in Research and Development than any other region of the UK over the past decade.

For more information about the landscape, culture and heritage of the North East region go to www.visitnortheastengland.com