Blake Hill

Blake Hill rises above the rolling moorland south of Barnard Castle, offering what amounts to a proper little walk with genuine views across County Durham. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the Pennines further west - but on a clear day you can see for miles across farmland and fell. The summit itself is unremarkable, honestly, just open moorland with a cairn, but the walk there is what counts.

Most people bag it as part of a longer ramble rather than driving out specifically for the view. Walkers will find it worth the effort, especially if you're already exploring the valleys around Barnard Castle. You won't need more than ninety minutes return from the nearest parking, though the ground can be boggy depending on how much rain the Pennines have thrown at it recently. There's no café at the top, no facilities - bring water and decent boots.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks dotted round Mickleton or Leekworth, Blake Hill makes a solid half-day outing. Kids might find the moorland a bit bleak and featureless after the first twenty minutes, but teenagers who actually walk will appreciate the isolation. Families better served by the riverside walks closer to Barnard Castle itself.

Free to access, naturally. Go late afternoon when the light softens across the moors - the views are considerably less brown that way. Avoid it after heavy rain unless you enjoy squelching back to the car.