Things to Do in Durham
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You are here > Home > Explore Durham > 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.
Number of results: 57
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Fishery
Baldersdale
Hury Reservoir is an exclusive fly fishery offering fishing in beautiful surroundings. The fishery enjoys lots of open space and is well stocked with rainbow trout from its local fish farm.
Railway
Stanhope
Take a ride on the Weardale Railway heritage passenger service to enjoy stunning views of Weardale, a National Landscape, and explore the historic market towns of Wolsingham and Stanhope.

Adventure Park / Playground
Staindrop
The Plotters’ Forest is an immersive outdoor playground located in a magical Christmas Tree Plantation at Raby Castle.

Walking Routes
The North Pennines National Landscape incorporates much of the Durham Dales, and is a stunning landscape of open heather moors, dramatic dales, tumbling upland rivers, wonderful woods, close-knit communities, glorious waterfalls, fantastic birds,…
Lake / Reservoir
Edmunbyers
Derwent Waterside Park is the perfect place for fun, laughter and the great fresh air with the people you love. Beautiful walks for all to enjoy
Farm
Bishop Auckland
Step into nature’s playground, with over 50 animals to interact with and feed in a relaxing environment.

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…
Fishery
Blackton Reservoir is one of the best wild brown trout fisheries in the country, offering fantastic scenery of the North Pennine Grouse Moors.
Outdoor and Wildlife Activity
Stanhope
Some of the darkest skies in England are found in the North Pennines. Much of the area is remote, wild countryside with little development and the views of the night sky are second to none.
Walking
Hamsterley Forest
Gruffalo Orienteering - fun family map reading challenge
Try our fun, navigational challenge at Hamsterley Forest using a simple map to find twelve Gruffalo markers hidden in the deep, dark wood.
If you're feeling competitive, choose to run, walk…
Outdoor and Wildlife Activity
Barnard Castle
Grassholme Waterside Park is a place that captures your imagination and lets it run wild, for you to make your perfect day out.
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…

Observatory / Planetarium
nr Mickleton
Waterside Parks purpose built observatory, based at Grassholme Reservoir near Barnard Castle, offers you the opportunity to gaze into the vastness and beauty of the universe. Let our lead astronomer guide you to understand the wonders of planets…


Outdoor and Wildlife Activity
Edmunbyers
Derwent Waterside Park is the perfect place for fun, laughter and the great fresh air with the people you love.
Museum
Cowshill
Killhope Lead Mining Museum is temporarily closed whilst restoration works continue. Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian lead mining museum offering a great day out for the family.





Museum
Barnard Castle
There’s always something great to see and do at The Bowes Museum. With more than 58,000 items in this Museum of artists, designers and makers, there are treasures at every turn.




Outdoor and Wildlife Activity
Darlington
Spend time in nature and watch the seasons change in Raby Castle’s stunning Deer Park and Walled Gardens, which are open to visitors from 10am - 4pm every day.

Walking
Stanhope
The North Pennines have a vast rights of way network, including the Pennine Way National Trail, numerous circular walks and large areas of open access land making it a great place to go for a walk.
Natural Feature
Forest in Teesdale
High Force is one of the most impressive waterfalls in England. The River Tees has been plunging into this gorge for thousands of years but the rocks it reveals are far more ancient – with origins dating back over 300 million yrs.



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.

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