High Force Hotel

The High Force Hotel sits right where the River Tees thunders over one of England's most dramatic waterfalls, and frankly, the location does half the work for you. It's a proper fell-side pub - the kind of place where walkers actually want to stop rather than just passing through. You get the roar of the water, the spray on your face if the wind's right, and views across the moorland that don't quit.

Inside it's traditional pub fare: decent enough for lunch after a morning hike, the sort of spot where a pint tastes better because you've earned it. There's a beer garden if the weather holds, though you're exposed up here so don't expect shelter. The falls themselves are the real draw - High Force is one of the North Pennines' best-kept-secret waterfalls, and the hotel gives you access without the full trek from Bishop Auckland.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's a natural stop on longer routes across the Tees Valley, and families with older kids will manage fine, though the terrain's uneven. Allow an hour to grab a drink and explore the immediate area. Summer weekends get busy, so mid-week visits feel less crowded.

If you're basing yourself at Mickleton Mill or Leekworth, both within six miles, this makes a cracking afternoon detour. The caravan parks cluster round Bishop Auckland, so High Force breaks up the stay nicely without eating up the day. It's not fancy, but it's honest work in a genuinely wild bit of County Durham.