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You are here > Home > Explore Durham > Durham Dales > Things to do in the Durham Dales

Things to do in the Durham Dales

Seek out natural wonders while walking or cycling in this breathtaking area, discover fascinating museums and much more along the way.

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Number of results: 41

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  1. Waterfall at Gibson's Cave, situated nearby to Bowlees Visitor Centre

    Add Bowlees Visitor Centre to Gibsons Cave to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 333 reviews333 reviews

    Bowlees Visitor Centre to Gibsons Cave

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Routes

    Newbiggin

    Centuries ago Viking invaders and settlers left their mark in the local dialect words of the Durham Dales. The Old Norse word “foss” referred to a waterfall and still it echoes down the ages in the modern word “force”. Close to Bowlees Visitor…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Bowlees Visitor Centre to Gibsons Cave
  2. Coarse fishing at Derwent

    Add Derwent Waterside Park Fishery to your Itinerary

    Derwent Waterside Park Fishery

    Type

    Type:

    Fishing

    Edmundbyers

    Derwent Waterside Park offers fishing in beautiful surroundings for fly and bait anglers. The fishery enjoys lots of open space and is well stocked from its own fish farm.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Derwent Waterside Park Fishery
  3. High Force Waterfall, blue skies

    Add High Force and Bowlees Geo Trail to your Itinerary

    High Force and Bowlees Geo Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    Newbiggin

    This 4-5 mile (6.5-8km) circular walk, from Bowlees Visitor Centre or High Force Hotel car park, will introduce you to some of the special features of the landscape around High Force and Low Force waterfalls.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for High Force and Bowlees Geo Trail
  4. Information on Blanchland Circular Walk

    Add Blanchland Circular Walk to your Itinerary

    Blanchland Circular Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    Blanchland

    You'll never forget this timeless stroll through one of England's oldest and most beautiful villages with its striking mixed woodland situated right on the River Derwent. It’s set in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Blanchland Circular Walk
  5. People walking in the woods

    Add Killhope Woodland Walks to your Itinerary

    Killhope Woodland Walks

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    Upper Weardale

    The woodland walks are part of a day out at Killhope – two wildlife hides, one accessible hide on the push chair friendly walk.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2026to31 Oct 2026
    More info for Killhope Woodland Walks
  6. The Retreat Spa Redworth Hall

    Add The Retreat at Redworth Hall to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 466 reviews466 reviews

    The Retreat at Redworth Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Spa and Relaxation

    Newton Aycliffe

    Set in the heart of County Durham, The Retreat at Redworth Hall Hotel has undergone an incredible refurbishment programme, designed to significantly enhance its facilities and promote an aura of relaxation.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Green Awards Green Tourism - Silver 2024Green Tourism - Silver
    More info for The Retreat at Redworth Hall
  7. Burnhope Reservoir

    Add Burnhope Reservoir to your Itinerary

    Burnhope Reservoir

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Wearhead

    Enjoy a peaceful circular walk around this reservoir in Weardale. There's some wonderful woodland trails and lakeside paths to enjoy. It's a very quiet place with a series of picnic tables where you can stop to enjoy the lovely scenery of the North…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Burnhope Reservoir
  8. Pow Hill Country Park

    Add Pow Hill Country Park to your Itinerary

    Pow Hill Country Park

    Type

    Type:

    Country / Royal Park

    Edmundbyers

    A moorland country park on the banks of the Derwent Reservoir.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Pow Hill Country Park
  9. Countryside around Blanchland with women using App.

    Add Geotours App to your Itinerary

    Geotours App

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    A free app has been created to help people explore the geology and landscape of inspiring sites along the European Atlantic Geotourism Route, including the North Pennines.  

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Geotours App
  10. Escomb Saxon Church

    Add Escomb Saxon Church to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 102 reviews102 reviews

    Escomb Saxon Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Bishop Auckland

    One of England's finest Saxon churches, Escomb dates to the 7thC and contains a Roman arch and stonework. If locked keys available from 28 Saxon Green (daily 9-6 during summer and 9-4 during winter).

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Escomb Saxon Church
  11. View of the golf course with a golfer in the distance. A sand bunker to the right and tree in the distance.

    Add Golf at Headlam Hall Country Hotel to your Itinerary

    Golf at Headlam Hall Country Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Golf Course

    Gainford

    Located in the Durham dales in the North East, and set over rolling pastureland around the Hall gardens this enjoyable and challenging course features an abundance of natural features including rig & fur, woodland, streams and ponds.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Golf at Headlam Hall Country Hotel
  12. St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton

    Add St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton to your Itinerary

    St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Barnard Castle

    St. Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton is a place of Peace, Worship and Spirituality situated in the Heart of Teesdale.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton
  13. North Pennines in Autumn

    Add Rookhope Fields and Fells to your Itinerary

    Rookhope Fields and Fells

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    Bishop Auckland

    In and around the former lead mining village of Rookhope, this walk takes in both the heritage and the nature of this part of Weardale.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Rookhope Fields and Fells
  14. Stanhope Fossil Tree

    Add Stanhope Fossil Tree to your Itinerary

    Stanhope Fossil Tree

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    The Stanhope tree was found in a sandstone quarry at Edmundbyers Cross, north of Stanhope, in 1915. Its discovery is recorded by this photograph in the Auckland and County Chronicle, dated 13 May 1915. The accompanying article also mentions another…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Stanhope Fossil Tree
  15. Meeting of the Waters

    Add Meeting of the Waters at Abbey Bridge to your Itinerary

    Meeting of the Waters at Abbey Bridge

    Type

    Type:

    Viewpoint

    Barnard Castle

    The Rivers Tees and Greta join together at a local beauty spot called “The Meeting of the Waters” not far from the elegant Rokeby Hall and Gardens in Teesdale. The Teesdale Way public footpath can be accessed on the south side of Abbey Bridge…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Meeting of the Waters at Abbey Bridge
  16. Autumn hills at North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

    Add A Dales Journey in the Footsteps of John Wesley to your Itinerary

    A Dales Journey in the Footsteps of John Wesley

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Tour

    “A Dales Journey” is a 90 miles drive following the footsteps of John Wesley’s 1761 journey visiting five of the oldest Methodist chapels in the world.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for A Dales Journey in the Footsteps of John Wesley
  17. H2O at Witton Country Park

    Add H2O Riders to your Itinerary

    H2O Riders

    Type

    Type:

    Activity Centre

    Witton-le-Wear

    Embark on an unforgettable outdoors adventure with paddle boarding, kayaking, or a thrilling water bike ride at the premier water sports hire centre at Witton Castle Activity Lake in County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for H2O Riders
  18. North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty  Guided Walk: Two Hills

    Add Cow Green Geological Trail to your Itinerary

    Cow Green Geological Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Trail

    Barnard Castle

    Cow Green Geological Trail Approximately 4 kilometres each way, this linear trail uses well-marked footpaths and minor roads and is wheel/push chair friendly to the top of Cauldron Snout.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Cow Green Geological Trail
  19. Family cycling

    Add Cycling at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Cycling at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Cycling and Mountain Biking

    Bishop Auckland

    Hamsterley Forest is one of the Northeast’s premier mountain bike destinations, with over 2000 hectares of forest to explore on 33 miles of waymarked trails and countless more miles of seldom travelled forest road Hamsterley Forest has something for…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Cycling at Hamsterley Forest
  20. Derwent Reservoir Trout Fishery

    Add Derwent Reservoir Walk to your Itinerary

    Derwent Reservoir Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    Edmundbyers

    Discover the wildlife and history of Derwent Reservoir along the multi user trail while taking in the breathtaking views of the reservoir.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Derwent Reservoir Walk
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