Summerhill Country Park

The walk into Summerhill Country Park from Hartlepool takes you through proper Durham countryside - flat enough that you won't be cursing your choice of footwear, but with enough trees and open grassland to feel like you've properly left town behind. It's a nature reserve that doesn't make a fuss about itself, which is refreshing. You get woodland paths, scrubland, and if you time it right, decent birdwatching. The reserve has managed to attract everything from woodpeckers to the occasional sparrowhawk, so bring binoculars if you're into that sort of thing.

Walkers will find a couple of hours here well spent - the paths are straightforward and it's the kind of place where you can potter about without needing a detailed map. Families with younger kids might find it a bit thin on attractions after the first hour, but if they're happy just running about in open space and spotting wildlife, they'll be content enough. The ground can get boggy after rain, so check the weather before heading out in winter.

It's free to wander, which counts in its favour. If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene just up the road, this makes an easy half-day escape from the holiday park itself. Nothing fancy, nothing forced - just a decent slice of the Durham countryside when you need a break from the coast.