Peg's Hole Reservoir

Water glints through the Durham moorland east of Bishop Auckland, and Peg's Hole Reservoir quietly gets on with what reservoirs do best - hold water and look rather nice doing it. It's a proper working reservoir, not some manicured attraction with a visitor centre and gift shop, so don't rock up expecting facilities. What you get instead is a genuinely peaceful spot for a walk around the water's edge, with decent views across the valley and enough space to feel like you've actually escaped.

This works best for walkers and bird-watchers rather than families after a day out. The circuit is manageable - give yourself an hour or so - and the paths are generally sound underfoot, though it can get boggy after rain. Fishing enthusiasts will want to check current access rules before heading over. Winter light here is properly atmospheric if you can face the cold.

The real point of Peg's Hole isn't that it's unmissable on its own. It's that you're so close to Stanhope and the wider Wear Valley that it slots nicely into a broader moorland wander. If you're holed up at one of the caravan parks nearby - White House & Hagg Bridge or Westgate are both within spitting distance - this gives you a straightforward way to get some fresh air without driving far. It's the sort of place that reminds you why people bother with caravanning in the first place: you're an hour's walk from your pitch, no crowds, no entry fees, just space and quiet.