Dry Rigg

The trig point at Dry Rigg sits at 1,354 metres on the Durham Pennines - not the highest in the range, but a proper vantage point all the same. It's an unassuming pillar marked on ordnance survey maps, the kind of thing walkers hunt down for their personal challenges or just because they've got the energy and the time.

There's no visitor centre or interpretation board here. What you get is moorland views rolling out across County Durham, with Bishop Auckland visible on a clear day. The walk up is straightforward enough from the Weardale valley - roughly an hour's climb depending on your fitness and the footpath conditions. Weather matters a lot on these Pennine fells. Wind can be harsh, cloud can roll in fast, and even in summer you'll want proper boots.

Historians might find the stone itself interesting as part of the wider trig network established across Britain for surveying - but most people come for the walk itself and the sense of reaching something. Kids will either love it or find it a bit dull depending on their age and whether you've framed it as an adventure.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks near Stanhope or Bishop Auckland - Greenfoot or White House & Hagg Bridge are closest - this works well as a morning or afternoon outing. The moorland is open year-round but autumn and spring probably give the most stable weather. Bring water, proper kit, and a map. It's free, obviously.