Tunstall reservoir

Water and woodland collide at Tunstall Reservoir, a proper working water body that's evolved into one of County Durham's quieter nature reserves. The walk around the perimeter is straightforward - nothing taxing, nothing that'll have you scrambling over rocks - but it's the kind of place where you'll actually spot things. Herons, if you're lucky. Dragonflies skimming the surface on a decent day. The reservoir itself is the main event; you're not getting a dramatic drop or Instagram-worthy vistas, but there's something calming about standing here watching the water with Consett a few miles away rather than breathing down your neck.

This works best for walkers after a gentle amble and birdwatchers with a bit of patience. Bring binoculars. Families with younger kids might find it a touch dull after forty minutes unless they're genuinely into spotting wildlife - it's not the sort of place with a visitor centre or benches every hundred yards. The reserve is free to access and you can do a full circuit in under ninety minutes at an easy pace.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks dotted around Consett - Bonners Lodge is closest at under three miles - Tunstall makes a decent leg-stretcher between park time and other activities. Combine it with a walk in the Derwent Valley or a mooch round Consett's old steel heritage sites for a fuller day. Best visited outside school holidays when it's genuinely quiet.