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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. North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty  Guided Walk: Two Hills

    Add Both Sides of the Tees: Barnard Castle and Whorlton to your Itinerary

    Both Sides of the Tees: Barnard Castle and Whorlton

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    Barnard Castle

    Both Sides of the Tees: Barnard Castle and Whorlton
    (5hrs) 9 miles

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Both Sides of the Tees: Barnard Castle and Whorlton
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Middleton in Teesdale

    Add Whistle Crag (Near Middleton-in-Teesdale) to your Itinerary

    Whistle Crag (Near Middleton-in-Teesdale)

    Type

    Type:

    Viewpoint

    Middleton-in-Teesdale

    Easily accessed viewing point with stunning and wide reaching views across Teesdale. Ideal spot to capture the North Pennines National Landscape including drystone walls, scattered settlements and open fell land to the far horizon. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Whistle Crag (Near Middleton-in-Teesdale)
  6. Children in Hamsterley Forest searching for stick characters on The Stickman Man Trail. Credit Forestry England Crown Copyright

    Add The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Families can join a new forest adventure as the much-loved character Stick Man, based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, returns to Forestry England Hamsterley.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2025to31 Jan 2026
    More info for The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  7. Large indoor swimming pool illuminated.
Dark tiled floor around the pool and 3 green walls at the back in-between sections with wall lights.

    Add Headlam Spa to your Itinerary

    Headlam Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Spa and Relaxation

    Headlam

    Designed to the highest standards for its members, hotel residents and day spa guests, Headlam Spa is a place to relax, exercise and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of water in a comfortable and friendly environment that reflects the beauty of the…

    Dates

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

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Good Spa Guide 4 Bubble Spa 2017Good Spa Guide 4 Bubble Spa
    More info for Headlam Spa
  8. 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
  9. Wallace and Gromit characters. Copyright and TM Aardman/Wallace & Gromit Ltd 2024  All rights reserved

    Add Forest Walkies with Wallace and Gromit at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Forest Walkies with Wallace and Gromit at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Tour

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    Join Wallace and Gromit for the ultimate forest walkies.

    Bond with your pooch by taking on dog-tastic challenges together, solve crossword clues and have lots of fun along the way – with everyone’s favourite dog and owner duo for company.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Forest Walkies with Wallace and Gromit at Hamsterley Forest
  10. 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
  11. Horse Riding: Blanchland Packhorse Trail - Horse

    Add Horse Riding: Blanchland Packhorse Trail - Horse to your Itinerary

    Horse Riding: Blanchland Packhorse Trail - Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Riding/Trekking Centre

    CONSETT

    This 21km circular horse riding route is 70% off-road and enjoys 1,027m of ascent. It starts at Baybridge, close to the village of Blanchland. You’ll follow the Carriers’ Way across Bulbeck Common, alive with the evocative calls of wading birds in…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Horse Riding: Blanchland Packhorse Trail - Horse
  12. Children and adults on mountain bikes - Forestry England/Crown copyright

    Add Squirrel Chaser Blue Cycle Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Squirrel Chaser Blue Cycle Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Cycle Route

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Hit the trails at Hamsterley Forest this Easter! Forestry England is delighted to announce the opening of a brand–new, blue (moderate) grade off-road cycle trail at Hamsterley Forest, County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Apr 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Squirrel Chaser Blue Cycle Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  13. 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
  14. Tees Riverside and Hay Meadows Walk

    Add Low Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Low Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    Near Middleton-in Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Low Force waterfall is part of the River Tees in beautiful Upper Teesdale. It is easily accessible from Bowlees Visitor Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Low Force Waterfall
  15. The Garage Spa

    Add The Garage Spa to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 298 reviews298 reviews

    The Garage Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Spa and Relaxation

    Barnard Castle

    The newly opened destination Garage Spa is set in an historic building, with all the luxury of a first class modern spa and situated in a beautiful area of Teesdale.

    Dates

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

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Good Spa Guide 5 Bubble Spa 2018Good Spa Guide 5 Bubble Spa
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Good Spa Award 2019Good Spa Award
    More info for The Garage Spa
  16. North Pennines in Autumn

    Add Picnic Spot: Rookhope to your Itinerary

    Picnic Spot: Rookhope

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Bishop Auckland

    It is always worthwhile turning off any of County Durham’s main roads to discover unexpected delights. None more so than in Weardale where in the village of Eastgate (west of Stanhope) a turning leads to the village of Rookhope and one of Durham’s…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Picnic Spot: Rookhope
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. Horse riding in Durham

    Add Horse Riding: Baldersdale Packhorse Trail - Horse to your Itinerary

    Horse Riding: Baldersdale Packhorse Trail - Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Riding/Trekking Centre

    BARNARD CASTLE

    This circular 18km (60% off-road) horse riding trail has 370m of ascent and starts from the south side of Hury Reservoir. It initially follows the banks of Hury and Blackton Reservoirs in remote Baldersdale, before striking off over the moors on the…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Horse Riding: Baldersdale Packhorse Trail - Horse
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