Collinson's Tarn

The walk down to Collinson's Tarn from above Barnard Castle rewards you with a proper moorland lake that feels genuinely remote despite being minutes from civilisation. It's a shallow, peaty body of water ringed by rough grass and bog - nothing showy, but exactly what you want if you're after solitude in the Pennines. The water's a dark tea-brown from the peat, which sounds unappealing until you realise it means you've found somewhere that hasn't been Instagram'd to death. Walkers get the most from this spot. It's not a casual stroll - the moorland terrain is boggy in places and the approach needs decent navigation skills, especially in cloud - but that very inaccessibility is the appeal. You're looking at an hour's walk from the nearest path, so don't expect crowds. There's no facilities here whatsoever; bring what you need. Fishermen used to come for brown trout, though these days it's more about the walk and the view across open moorland. If you're based at The Old Armoury Campsite near Barnard Castle, this makes a brilliant half-day outing that separates you from the usual tourist trails around the castle and Teesdale. The tarn itself is free to access - you're just wandering onto the moors. Go in drier weather. Wet conditions turn this into a serious slog, and the navigation becomes trickier. Spring or early autumn offer the best balance of decent weather and fewer midges.