Durham

The former mining and heavy industry centre County Durham turned into a great place to spend active holidays with a twist. Stunning sceneries, friendly people and tons of stuff to do: Durham is a favourite place to visit for outdoor fanatics. Explore the seaside at Sunderland, the astonishing buildings in Durham and the AONB North Pennines including Weardale. The year-round destination County Durham is a place for hikers, cyclists, skiers and everybody else.

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Castle · North East England

Barnard Castle

North East England

On the north bank of the River Tees, in County Durham, Northern England is the market town called ...

from Russell Cox, Outdooractive Editors

Museum · North East England

North of England Open Air Museum

North East England

An ‘open air museum’ based in the North-East of England, near Newcastle.

from Kieran Mann, Outdooractive Editors

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Castle · North East England

Barnard Castle

North East England

On the north bank of the River Tees, in County Durham, Northern England is the market town called ...

from Russell Cox, Outdooractive Editors

Museum · North East England

North of England Open Air Museum

North East England

An ‘open air museum’ based in the North-East of England, near Newcastle.

from Kieran Mann, Outdooractive Editors

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Exploring Durham City

Photo: pixabay.com

The city of Durham is an attractive cultural stronghold - the beautiful Romanesque cathedral and Durham Castle are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Students from all around attend England’s third university of choice to broaden their knowledge surrounded by the atmospheric living history of the former ecclesial centre of Durham.

A walk along the River Wear guides you through the city and gives you an overview of the medieval heritage sites.

From Durham, you can easily expose the surroundings - ideal for an active excursion. A green belt separates the postindustrial villages close to the coastline and the valleys of Weardale and Teesdale in the mountains of the Pennines.

Outdoor Activities in the North Pennines

The North Pennines was declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a Global Geopark - under supervision the natural beauty is conserved and enhanced to preserve it for the future. Therefore, nature in the North Pennines is very original and unspoilt. The mountains here are an excellent alternative to the popular but crowded Lake District. Walking in the North Pennines grants tranquillity and relaxation.

Over 73 walking, cycling and riding trails offer a lot of variety and adventure. The 60 km (37 mi) long Isaac’s Tea Trail is a circular route through the area which allows you to explore the unique flora and fauna - here even alpine plants grow like nowhere else in Britain.

Furthermore, the stunning landscape of the North Pennines is characterized by one heather moors and peatlands, attractive dales and hay meadows, upland rivers, mythical woods, lovely villages with kind people and remnants of the industrial time.

River Tees, North Pennines
Photo: Robert J Heath, CC BY, flickr.com