Wolviston Duck Pond

This isn't going to blow your mind, but it's exactly the sort of spot that makes a caravan holiday in County Durham properly worthwhile. Wolviston Duck Pond is a modest stretch of water between the villages of Wolviston and Hartlepool - the kind of place locals know and visitors stumble upon while looking for a walk that won't eat up the whole afternoon.

You get ducks, geese, and the odd swan if you're lucky. There's a path around it, wildflowers in season, and genuinely peaceful air. The water's still enough that you'll see reflections properly on a calm day. It's the sort of place where kids will happily throw breadcrumbs for twenty minutes before getting restless, and walkers can knock out a circuit in under an hour without breaking a sweat.

Free, obviously. No facilities to speak of, so don't expect a café or loos. Go early morning or late afternoon when it's quietest and the light's better. Spring and early summer are when it looks its best.

If you're based at Donnewell Farm just five miles away, this makes an easy addition to a morning's wandering. It's not a reason to plan a trip around, but paired with walks across the North East's coast and countryside, it fills a gap nicely. The kind of thing you'll remember more fondly than you'd expect when you're back home scrolling through photos.