Teesdale Leisure Centre

The leisure centre sits just outside Barnard Castle, serving the local community with the sort of facilities you'd expect from a proper sports venue - swimming pool, gym, courts for various activities. It's the kind of place that works well if you're camping nearby and the weather turns grey, which in County Durham happens often enough that it's worth knowing about.

Families with younger kids will find the pool useful for a couple of hours, though you're not looking at a destination attraction here. This is functional rather than fancy. Adults might use the gym facilities if they've brought trainers and can't face a wet walk, and there are courts if your group fancies badminton or something similar.

With several caravan and camping sites within two miles - Teesdale Barnard Castle Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is practically on the doorstep, with Pecknell Farm and Barnard Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site also very close - the leisure centre makes sense as a backup plan rather than a main event. You'd use it when you want a break from exploring the valley itself.

Practical details are thin on the ground. Opening hours and admission fees aren't widely published online, so ring ahead before you visit. If you're staying at one of the nearby sites, ask reception - they'll know exactly what's on offer and whether it's worth the trip. During school holidays the pool gets busy, so weekday mornings are better if you can manage it.