Brown Dod

Brown Dod rises up from the moorland south of Barnard Castle like a proper little sentinel, and once you're up there, the views across County Durham sprawl out properly. It's not a massive peak - the walk from the nearest access points takes maybe an hour or so - but it gives you that genuine sense of having earned the vantage point. The moorland walk itself is what makes it worthwhile, honestly. You get the wind in your face, the wide open spaces, and that peculiar silence that comes with high ground in the North East.

This is walkers' territory, full stop. If you're after a gentle stroll round manicured gardens, look elsewhere. What you get here is proper moorland hiking, the kind where you need decent boots and don't mind a bit of rough ground underfoot. The nearest town, Barnard Castle, sits just a few miles away, so you're well-positioned for a day that mixes a morning scramble up Brown Dod with afternoon exploring the town itself.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Leekworth or Mickleton Mill are both within spitting distance - Brown Dod makes for a solid half-day adventure. Hill Top Huts, a touch further out, also works as a launching point if you fancy a proper moorland morning. Free to access, no facilities at the peak itself, so come prepared. The weather up there can turn quickly, so check conditions before you set off. It's not dramatic or famous, but that's rather the point.