Seven Hills Tarn

The walk up to Seven Hills Tarn rewards you with a proper mountain lake feel, despite being in the Pennines rather than the Alps. It's a genuine tarn - dark water reflecting moorland sky, surrounded by heather and rough grass - and the path from Barnard Castle direction takes roughly ninety minutes there and back depending on your fitness.

You don't swim here or paddle boats. You come for the walk itself and the landscape. Serious walkers will appreciate the climb; families with young kids might find it a slog unless they're already fell-walking types. The surrounding moorland is the real draw - wide open spaces, wind in your face, the kind of terrain that makes you feel properly away from things.

There's no cafe or facilities at the tarn itself, so bring water and a packed lunch if you're making an afternoon of it. Spring through autumn works best - winter can be boggy and the path's trickier then. It's free to visit.

The Old Armoury Campsite just 2.6 miles away makes an ideal base, or Pecknell Farm if you want something a touch further out. Both rate exceptionally well and leave you perfectly positioned for this walk plus exploring the wider Teesdale area. Barnard Castle itself has the castle and town amenities, but the tarn's really the thing if you're after genuine upland scenery without needing serious mountaineering skills.