Low Bishopseat Plantation

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Low Bishopseat Plantation sits just outside Bishop Auckland and makes for a solid half-hour detour if you're touring the nearby caravan parks. The forest is dense enough to feel like proper countryside despite being close to town - larch and conifer mix with older broadleaf trees, creating that quiet, slightly dark atmosphere woods get when the canopy's thick overhead.

It's best suited to walkers who don't need much fuss. There are no formal trails that I could find, no visitor centre, no facilities. You pick your way through on footpaths and work out where you're going as you go. Kids will enjoy it for scrambling about among fallen branches and spotting the odd pheasant, though it's not the kind of place that holds attention for more than an hour unless you're properly keen on trees.

The woodland offers a useful break from the caravan routine - Westgate Caravan & Camping Site and Greenfoot Holiday Home Park are both within three miles, so it's worth knowing about if you're based nearby. Head in early morning when it's quieter and the light filters through differently. There's something about a damp forest floor that makes you remember why you wanted to escape the caravan site in the first place, even if it's only for an hour. Free entry, obviously. Just go easy on shoes - it gets boggy after rain.