Noon Hill

The walk up Noon Hill takes about twenty minutes from Bishop Auckland, and it's worth every step. You climb through mixed woodland before breaking out onto open moorland, and suddenly you've got proper views across Weardale and the Pennine ridges beyond. On a clear day you can see for miles. It's not dramatic in the jaw-dropping sense - no cliffs or peaks that'll make you gasp - but it's the kind of vantage point that makes you understand why people fought over this landscape for centuries.

This one's best for walkers and anyone who fancies a brisk leg-stretch rather than a full day's trek. Kids will manage it fine if they're reasonably mobile, though the path can get boggy in places and there's nothing at the top to keep them entertained once they've caught their breath. History buffs might appreciate the views down into Weardale, where old lead mining operations scarred the valley floor, but you won't find interpretive boards or facilities up here.

Free to visit, obviously. Allow an hour there and back if you're taking it steady, less if you're striding. Go early on weekends to avoid the car park chaos. If you're staying at Westgate Caravan & Camping Site nearby, this makes a cracking morning outing before breakfast or a late afternoon ramble when the light's getting interesting. It's the sort of honest, unglamorous spot that works perfectly as part of a wider Bishop Auckland weekend rather than a destination in itself.