Willington North Dene

The path curves through scrubland thick with bramble and hawthorn, and suddenly you're standing on a plateau of grassland that drops away to reveal the River Wear snaking through a wooded gorge below. Willington North Dene, just outside Bishop Auckland, is a proper nature reserve - the kind of place where you actually spot things rather than just walk through scenery.

It's grassland and woodland together, which makes it genuinely interesting. You get the open views across the plateau one moment, then you're picking your way through woodland paths where the light filters green through the canopy. Butterflies and birds are the main draw here - bring binoculars if you're serious about it. The gorge itself is worth the walk just for the geology; the river's carved through some striking sandstone.

Walkers will get the most from Willington North Dene. It's not a quick twenty-minute loop - allow an hour and a half to do it properly and actually look around. Families with young kids might find it a bit too open and windswept on the plateau, though the woodland sections offer more shelter and interest for exploring. History buffs won't find much, so don't expect Roman camps or medieval ruins.

Best visited spring through early autumn when the grassland flowers come through and migrating warblers pass through. Winter's muddy and bleak. The reserve appears to be free access - it's managed as a proper nature site, not a visitor attraction.

If you're staying at Bradley Burn Caravan Park nearby, this makes a solid morning walk before heading into Bishop Auckland for lunch.