Crag Pond

The water at Crag Pond sits in a proper little hollow just outside Barnard Castle, surrounded by moorland that rolls away in all directions. It's not huge - you could walk the perimeter in twenty minutes or so - but it's got a genuine sense of isolation that you don't always find near a town. The pond itself is dark and still, reflecting the sky like a mirror when the wind drops, and the banks are thick with heather and rough grass.

This is walker territory, really. Local hikers use it as a waypoint on longer routes across the Pennines, and if you're camped at one of the nearby sites - Barnard Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site is barely a mile away, or The Old Armoury Campsite if you want something smaller - it's an easy morning outing. Families with older kids will get something out of it, though there's not much to actually do once you've looked at the water and taken a photo. No facilities that I'm aware of, no car park in the traditional sense.

Best visited on a clear day when you can see across the moors. Early morning or late afternoon light works beautifully here. It's the kind of place that rewards a short walk rather than a long sit - nice as a break between exploring Barnard Castle itself and pushing on towards Teesdale. Worth the detour if you're hiking the area, less worth it if you're just looking for a lake to sit by for an afternoon.