Knot Hill

The walk up Knot Hill rewards you with proper views across the Teesdale landscape, and it's the kind of peak that doesn't demand a full day of your time. From Barnard Castle, it's a straightforward approach, and once you're up there the surrounding countryside rolls out in all directions - the sort of outlook that makes you understand why people bother with fell walking in the first place.

It's a modest climb rather than an epic undertaking, so families with older kids will manage fine, and walkers after a quick leg-stretch between exploring the market town and moving on elsewhere won't feel shortchanged. Allow a couple of hours there and back from the car, depending on your pace and how long you fancy sitting about at the top.

The nearest caravan parks - Leekworth and Mickleton Mill are both within a couple of miles - make this an easy add-on to a week in the area. You could combine it with a morning poking around Barnard Castle itself, then knock out the hill walk in the afternoon. Weather-dependent, obviously. A proper grey drizzly day won't do this one any favours, whereas clear conditions make it well worth the effort. It's the sort of walk that gives you just enough physical exertion to feel you've earned whatever's on at the local pub afterwards.