Durham Dales

Exhilarating uplands and tranquil valleys inhabited by rare wildlife, unique plant species and a friendly rural community: the Durham Dales are a paradise for walkers and cyclists. A wide choice of walks and cycle routes help you explore the beautiful unspoilt scenery, from the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the west to Hamsterley Forest in the east, while market towns such as Barnard Castle and coaching inns like the Rose and Crown at Romaldkirk provide tasty home cooking and a cosy bed at the end of the trail.

Escomb Saxon Church, the imposing Raby Castle and Killhope Lead Mining Museum are just three of the many attractions that testify to the area’s rich history, and The Bowes Museum is well worth a visit for the priceless treasures housed behind its French chateau-style façade.