Shincliffe Park

The woodland around Shincliffe, just south of Durham city centre, is proper walking territory. You get mixed woodland - oak, ash, and plenty of undergrowth that makes it feel genuinely wild even though you're minutes from the cathedral. The River Wear winds through here too, which keeps things interesting if you're not mad keen on flat forest trudging.

It's the sort of place that works best on foot. The paths are decent enough, nothing too technical, though after rain the going gets muddy fast. Allow a couple of hours if you're actually walking rather than just stopping for ten minutes. Families with kids will find it engaging enough - the river crossings and tree cover give children something to do besides moan, and there's room to run about without worrying too much.

Historically inclined visitors might appreciate that you're in the orbit of Durham's medieval landscape, though Shincliffe itself is more about the walking than the heritage. Comes into its own from late spring through early autumn. Winter's fine too if you don't mind the grey.

If you're based at Woodside Ridge Caravan Park a few miles north, this beats another lap of the caravan site. Real advantage over the tourist attractions in Durham proper is you can spend an afternoon here without queuing or paying entry fees. Not dramatic, but solid woodland walking on Durham's doorstep.