County Durham is located in the North East of England, and is known as the land of the Prince Bishops. The city is dominated by the awe inspiring cathedral and castle (the latter now a college of the university), but there’s far more to Durham than just these buildings. With a magnificent countryside and coastline that provide plenty of hiking and exploration opportunities, you should definitely check out the county as a whole in addition to the stunning city!
A good proportion of the West Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is within Durham, and can be found to the west of Barnard Castle. The two main dales, Teesdale and Weardale, contain some marvellous sites for those wanting a hike. Instead, you could visit the Durham coast – this features the denes, which are steep sided, wooded valleys leading down to sandy beaches, where local people still can be seen collecting sea coal.
As previously mentioned, the city of Durham is the primary destination for most who visit the county, and it’s easy to see why. Dating back as far as 2000 BC, the picturesque city is filled with greenery, and with lots of hills and little passageways, it’s fun just to wander around this scenic city and see what you come across! Although Durham, as well as Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland, usually attract more visitors, Darlington is the largest town in the county, and a hidden gem in its own right, with historic attractions and a lovely park.
The magnificent countryside offers a wide range of destinations such as High Force waterfall on the River Tees, Hamsterley Forest and Blanchland. On the coast, Castle Eden and Hawthorn Denes are well worth a visit! Durham Castle and Cathedral are a World Heritage Site, and by far the most popular visitor destination, though there are many more in Durham itself, as well as the recently reopened castle at Bishop Auckland. For example, Adventure Valley is perfect for energetic kids, and the university Botanical Gardens is a tranquil spot for those wanting some peace and quiet.