Slateyford Plantation

Slateyford Plantation is a sprawling forest just outside Consett - the kind of place where you can lose track of time wandering between conifers and deciduous trees without seeing another soul. It's proper woodland, not a manicured country park, so expect muddy paths, dense canopy cover, and the genuine quiet that only forests give you.

Walkers will find this spot genuinely worthwhile. There are decent trails threading through, though nothing is signposted to death, so a bit of navigation sense helps. In autumn the light filters through in that golden way that makes you understand why people bang on about forests, and spring brings the undergrowth alive. You'll want at least two hours to do it justice - three if you're not in a rush.

Families with older kids will get on well here. Younger ones might struggle with the lack of facilities and the uneven ground, but there's enough space to explore and things to discover without it feeling contrived. Bring wellies year-round; it can be boggy.

It's genuinely free, which is refreshing. If you're staying at Village Green Holiday Park nearby, this makes an excellent half-day outing that won't cost you anything beyond petrol. The forest doesn't offer the spectacle of a managed attraction, but that's precisely the appeal - it's the real thing.