Bishop Auckland

County Durham's former mining heartland feels quite different these days. Bishop Auckland has reinvented itself around its magnificent Auckland Castle, home to the Prince Bishops for eight centuries and now housing one of Europe's finest collections of Spanish art. The town centre might feel a bit sleepy midweek, but there's genuine character here - especially around the castle grounds where you can wander through deer parks and formal gardens.

The surrounding countryside tells Durham's industrial story through sites like Black Prince Colliery and Victoria Pit, remnants of the coalfield that once powered the nation. Harperley Camp offers a different slice of history - this World War Two prisoner-of-war camp is one of the best-preserved examples in Britain. The contrast is striking: walk from medieval castle to wartime barracks in twenty minutes.

Knitsley Fell provides proper walking territory if you fancy stretching your legs, with cracking views across the Wear Valley. The area's dotted with interesting churches too - St Philip and St James in nearby Tow Law has some lovely Victorian stonework that's well worth a look.

Getting here's straightforward enough. The A688 runs right through town, and you're only fifteen minutes from the A1 if you're driving up from the south. Durham city's a twenty-minute drive northeast, while the market town of Barnard Castle lies about the same distance southwest.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Bishop Auckland makes perfect sense for exploring this part of County Durham. You're centrally placed for day trips to the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines, or even a run over to the coast at Seaham. Plus, having a base here means you can take your time exploring Auckland Castle properly - it deserves more than a quick visit.