North Pennines National Landscape

The North Pennines roll out across County Durham like someone's thrown a crumpled green blanket over the landscape. This isn't a single attraction you tick off in an afternoon - it's the whole sweeping moorland system that defines the region, and once you're up there, you'll understand why people keep coming back.

Walkers get the most from this. The terrain ranges from gentle riverside paths following the Tees and Wear to proper upland hikes with proper views - you're looking at everything from High Cup Nick down to the Eden Valley depending on where you start. The highest point, Cross Fell, sits just outside the border but the North Pennines proper give you height, space, and that particular kind of wind-blown peace you don't get elsewhere in the north.

It's free to roam, which is the whole point. No gates, no admission fee. Summer works well if you want reliable weather; winter can be moody but spectacular if you're equipped for it. Allow anything from a few hours for a valley walk to a full day if you're tackling the upper reaches.

Staying at Westgate Caravan & Camping Site, just 3.6 miles from Bishop Auckland, puts you perfectly placed. You've got proper civilization - shops, pubs, the Bishop Auckland market - then straight up into the hills. It's that rare thing: a base where you can do strenuous walking in the morning and still grab a decent meal by evening. Families with older kids will find plenty of options; younger ones might flag on the long moorland stretches.