Barnard Castle

The 2020 lockdown made this Teesdale market town temporarily famous worldwide - though locals have long known its proper charms. Barnard Castle sits where the River Tees carves through dramatic limestone cliffs, creating one of those Yorkshire Dales landscapes that photographers can't resist.

The medieval castle ruins give the town its name and tower over cobbled streets lined with independent shops and cafés. It's proper old England here - stone buildings, narrow alleys, and not a chain store in sight along the main thoroughfare. The castle itself is worth the climb for views across Teesdale's rolling hills.

Outside town, the landscape opens into something special. Stang Forest offers woodland walks where red squirrels still dart between ancient trees. More unusual is Teesdale Alpacas, where you can meet these gentle creatures against the backdrop of Durham's hills. The Great Stone stands like a sentinel on the moors - one of those geological oddities that makes you wonder how it got there.

For the truly curious, The Monk's Head Stone Face carved into Deepdale Woods creates an eerie natural sculpture that locals have known about for generations. Arndale Hill provides the area's highest viewpoint, though it's a proper trek to the summit.

The A66 connects Barnard Castle to both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales within an hour's drive. It's that rare thing - a genuine working town that hasn't been sanitised for tourists but offers plenty to discover.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed for both the town's attractions and the wilder Teesdale countryside beyond. Several sites lie within easy walking distance of the castle and shops, while others offer more secluded spots among the surrounding farmland.