Low Currack Rigg

The walk up Low Currack Rigg rewards you with one of those views that makes the climb worthwhile - moorland stretching out across County Durham in all directions, and on a clear day you can see properly far. It's not a dramatic fell, nothing teeth-gritted or technical, just a steady pull uphill from Bishop Auckland direction that takes the better part of an hour depending on your fitness and how often you stop for breath.

This is walker territory. Families with younger kids might find it a bit much, though determined ones with good boots and snacks will manage fine. History buffs won't find much to get excited about - it's the landscape itself that's the draw, the sense of being up on something real without needing to rope yourself to anything. The moorland can look bleak in poor weather, honestly, but that's part of its appeal if you like that sort of thing.

There's nothing on the peak itself - no café, no shelter, no monuments. Bring what you need. Free to visit, naturally. Allow two to three hours return depending on your pace. Winter can be wet and boggy underfoot, so spring through autumn is better.

If you're based at Leekworth Caravan Park or Mickleton Mill just down the road, this makes a proper half-day outing that doesn't eat into your broader itinerary. It's the sort of walk that clears your head without demanding your full attention.