Dora's Seat

The walk up to Dora's Seat rewards you with proper views across Weardale, one of County Durham's finest valleys. It's a straightforward climb from Bishop Auckland, nothing too demanding, and you'll find yourself standing on a peak that feels genuinely remote despite being accessible in under an hour.

The seat itself is a simple stone structure - nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. You get why someone named Dora would have chosen this spot. On a clear day the panorama stretches across rolling moorland and down into the valley floor. Walkers will appreciate it most; the views reward the effort, though it's not a slog. History buffs might spend five minutes wondering about Dora herself, but there's little interpretation on site.

Allow two hours return from the car park, longer if you're not a regular walker. It's free, as these things tend to be. Autumn's probably best - the light sits differently on the moors then, and you won't be battling midges.

If you're staying at Westgate Caravan & Camping Site just down the road, this makes an excellent half-day jaunt. Pair it with a wander around Bishop Auckland itself or combine it with other Weardale walks for a proper hiking day. White House & Hagg Bridge, slightly further out, works too if you want something less obvious than the main tourist spots. It's not a destination in itself, but as part of a walking holiday in the region, it absolutely earns its place.