Baybridge Picnic Area

The River Tyne flows past this straightforward riverside spot just outside Hexham, where a handful of picnic tables face the water and trees provide decent shelter. It's not fancy - there's no playground, no cafe, no Wi-Fi - but that's rather the point. You pull in, spread out a blanket, and listen to the river. The setting's genuinely pleasant, with the water moving steadily past and banks lined with trees that turn brilliant in autumn.

Families with young kids might spend an hour here before they need moving on to something with more to do. Walkers using the riverside paths stopping for lunch will find it perfectly adequate. If you're staying at Village Green Holiday Park or Springhouse just up the road, it's a five-minute drive for an afternoon out without leaving the locality.

There's no entry fee as far as anyone knows, and no formal opening hours - it's the kind of place you access when you fancy it. Bring your own food. Parking's informal but serviceable. The real appeal is simply that it's there: a quiet stretch of Tyne-side where you can sit and watch the water without anyone trying to sell you something. Worth including in a park-based holiday if you're after a low-key break in Durham's river valleys, though don't expect it to be the highlight. It's more about the peace than the view.