Stony Hill

Stony Hill rises above Consett with the sort of straightforward appeal that doesn't need a visitor centre or fancy facilities. It's a proper peak walk - nothing Alpine, but enough of a climb to feel like you've earned the view across the Derwent Valley and toward the Pennines beyond. The walk takes most people somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour and a half depending on fitness and which route you pick from the lower slopes.

The summit itself is honest moorland rather than dramatic - windswept grass, some rocky outcrops, the kind of place where the weather makes all the difference. Go on a clear day and you can see right across County Durham. Go on a grey one and you're basically walking through cloud, which has its own appeal if you're into that sort of moody atmosphere.

It's free to access and there's no gatekeeping - just park sensibly at the base and head up. Families with older kids will find it manageable, though younger ones might grumble at the exposed ridge sections when the wind gets up. Serious walkers can tack it onto longer routes through the surrounding moorland. Allow two hours total if you're not rushing.

From Village Green Holiday Park or Allensford Holiday Park near Consett, you're barely ten minutes away by car. It's the sort of walk you'd do on a decent afternoon rather than plan a day around, which makes it perfect for caravan holidays when you want to stretch your legs without elaborate gear.