Hardberry Hill

The walk up Hardberry Hill rewards you with the kind of view that makes you understand why people bothered mapping this corner of County Durham in the first place. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the Pennine showstoppers further west - but from the top you get proper exposure across the moorland, with Barnard Castle and the Tees Valley spreading out below if the weather cooperates.

This is a trig point pilgrimage, really. Ordnance Survey markers have been drawing walkers to summits across Britain for decades, and Hardberry Hill sits at 356 metres, which puts it within reach of most people with decent boots and an hour or so to spare. The ascent itself is straightforward - moorland walking, nothing technical - though the terrain can be boggy depending on recent rainfall. Bring waterproofs as standard.

Walkers will appreciate the wider moorland circuit this sits within. History buffs and geography types get genuine satisfaction from standing at a trig point and looking at the OS map with the actual landscape. Families with older children who don't mind a modest uphill push will find it worthwhile; younger kids might struggle with the motivation unless they're proper map enthusiasts already.

Staying nearby at Leekworth or Mickleton Mill puts you within three miles, handily close for an afternoon outing. It fits well as part of a broader walk around the Barnard Castle area - the town itself has the castle ruins and River Tees walks if you want to mix things up. Allow a couple of hours for the hill and immediate surroundings. Free to access, obviously.