Summerhill Force & Gibson's Cave

The waterfall hits you first - a proper thundering cascade that fills the whole wooded gorge with spray and noise. Summerhill Force isn't massive by fell standards, but it's genuine and dramatic enough to make the walk worthwhile, especially after rain when the water's really going. The River Wear has carved this lovely little ravine through the Durham countryside, and it's the kind of place that feels genuinely remote despite being only a few miles from Bishop Auckland.

Gibson's Cave sits just downstream, a natural rock shelter that's been used for centuries - you can see the carved initials and wonder about the hands that made them. It's a pleasant scramble to reach it, nothing too technical, but the path can be slippery so go carefully. The whole circuit works well for a couple of hours if you're not in a rush, longer if you're the type to sit by the water with a flask.

This is walkers' territory, really. Families with kids old enough to handle a bit of uneven ground will enjoy it, though younger ones might find the scramble fiddly. The area doesn't feel commercialised - there's no visitor centre or gift shop, which is rather refreshing. Allow two to three hours if you want to properly explore both spots without rushing.

It slots nicely into a week based at one of the local caravan parks - Mickleton Mill or Leekworth are both close by - as a half-day excursion. Pair it with Bishop Auckland's town centre if you need something for a rainy afternoon, though you'll want decent weather to really appreciate what's on offer here.