1914 - 1919 Our Glorious Dead

A sobering walk through Durham's war memorial landscape reveals the scale of the First World War's cost on this corner of County Durham. The 1914-1919 Our Glorious Dead site honours those who fell, and standing here you're confronted with the sheer number of names - it's not abstract history, it's personal loss multiplied hundreds of times over.

Durham itself sits close by, so you can combine this with a wander around the cathedral and castle. The memorial works best if you give it proper time rather than rushing through. Bring someone to talk it over with, because the weight of it doesn't quite hit until you're reading the names and doing the maths on the ages.

History buffs and anyone with family connections to the war will find it genuinely moving. Families with younger kids might find it heavy going - there's no interactive element, just remembrance. It's free to visit, which feels right.

If you're camping at Strawberry Hill Farm just outside Durham, this is a decent half-morning or afternoon outing. The site itself is straightforward - no facilities to speak of, no café - so pack a flask. Go when the weather's decent enough to stand and read properly. Winter drizzle rather undermines the experience.

Worth the trip if you're already in Durham. Don't expect it to be uplifting, but it does what it sets out to do: make you stop and remember.