Hell Hole Slack

The water at Hell Hole Slack sits dark and still, ringed by steep woodland that makes you feel rather cut off from the world. It's a glacial lake tucked into the Pennine landscape near Barnard Castle, and honestly, it's the sort of place that rewards a bit of effort to find but won't keep you for hours.

You're looking at a modest body of water - nothing like the show-stopping lakes you'd find further north - but the setting has real character. The walk down from the road is steep in places and muddy after rain, so proper boots are essential. Allow an hour to get down, have a look around, and scramble back up. The surrounding fell tops offer decent views if you're willing to push on a bit.

It's genuinely worth the detour if you're already in Teesdale, particularly for walkers who enjoy a bit of wild landscape and don't mind scrambling through overgrown paths. Families with young children might find it frustrating - there's nowhere flat to play and the approach is genuinely rough. History buffs will find little to grab them here, though the quarrying scars on the surrounding hills tell their own story.

Stay at Hewn Yorkshire if you're basing yourself nearby - it's a proper 5-star operation and gives you the freedom to explore Teesdale properly. Hell Hole Slack works best as part of a wider walking day rather than a standalone stop. Go in autumn when the light cuts through the trees properly and the crowds thin out.