I have just looked the route on Google maps and its giving me 370 miles/6 ish hours.
I am not familiar with landscapes south of nottm so I cant advise on that .The light has gone by about 5.00pm so you are looking at the Derbyshire Dales in the Peak District or the Yorkshire Dales.
Depending on what time you get there you could leave the M1 and go through Matlock/Chatsworth/Bakewell and over Strines to pick up the M1 again at Sheffield to see the Peak district, or you could crack on up the M1/A1 and come off at Richmond and have a look at Swaledale in the Yorks Dales.
Or you could head for the North Pennines and have a look at Barnard Castle and Teesdale -High force is very photogenic.
Hope this helps and have a good trip-Northumberland is wonderful, its called the forgotten county-its nearly as good as Yorkshire ( LOL)!
BTW the Kippers at Craster are to die for -if you like kippers.