Holgate How

The walk up to Holgate How rewards you with a proper view across Teesdale - the sort of vista that makes you understand why people move to County Durham and stay put. It's not a dramatic fell top, more a modest hill rise that's surprisingly rewarding given the modest effort required.

From Barnard Castle, you're looking at an hour's drive or so, depending on which route you take through the dales. The climb itself is straightforward enough, taking somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace and the path conditions. There's nothing technical about it, which means families with reasonably capable walkers will manage fine. Younger kids might find it a bit of a slog without the payoff of a dramatic summit, but anyone who enjoys gentle moorland walking will appreciate the rolling landscape and the way the valley opens up as you climb.

On a clear day the views really do justify the effort - you can see proper distances across the moors and down into the valley. Avoid the heavy rain days; the ground gets boggy and the views disappear anyway. Spring and autumn are your best bets for reliable weather.

If you're staying at Thorpe Farm Centre nearby, this makes a decent morning walk that doesn't eat the entire day. You could easily combine it with exploring Barnard Castle itself or walking along the River Tees. It's the sort of unshowy climb that local people do regularly, which is usually a good sign.