Fox Holes Dene

Walking into Fox Holes Dene feels like stepping off the Durham coast and into something altogether wilder. This woodland sits just inland from Peterlee, a proper working forest rather than a manicured park - all steep banks, dark conifers, and the kind of quiet you don't find in most tourist spots.

You're down among the trees here, with paths that wind through a genuine dene landscape. The name gives it away - there are actual hollows carved by water over centuries, which makes the walking uneven in places but genuinely interesting if you like terrain with character. It's the sort of place where you notice things: the way light filters through, how the ground changes from muddy to rocky, the bird life when you stop talking.

This isn't a destination that's going to keep small children entertained for hours, but it works brilliantly for anyone who actually enjoys walking. Families with older kids who don't need a visitor centre or a café will find it proper peaceful. In autumn or after rain, it's at its best - you get the smell of the forest floor and genuine atmosphere.

If you're based at The Barn at Easington (just down the road), Fox Holes Dene makes a solid half-morning excursion before heading back for lunch. It's free access, the paths are established though not manicured, and you can do this in ninety minutes or take twice as long if you're in no rush. Go when the weather's decent - it's exposed to the elements without being dramatic about it.