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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Discover Durham's Great Outdoors > Getting back to nature > Wildlife activities and events

Wildlife activities and events

There's lots of wild and wonderful places to explore the county's natural beauty and wildlife.

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  1. outdoor zen garden

    Add Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 422 reviews422 reviews

    Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Spa and Relaxation

    Seaham

    Whether you are staying overnight or visiting for the day take a little time for you and luxuriate at the tranquil Serenity Spa, the perfect environment to relax and escape the complications of the modern world.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Good Spa Guide Luxury 5 Bubble Spa 2023Good Spa Guide Luxury 5 Bubble Spa
    • AA AA - 5 Star Red Award 2023AA - 5 Star Red Award
    • AA AA Notable Wine List Award 2023AA Notable Wine List Award
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Boutique Hotelier- Best Boutique Spa 2023 2023Boutique Hotelier- Best Boutique Spa 2023
    More info for Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall
  2. Exterior image of The Faith Museum at The Auckland Project.

    Add The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Bishop Auckland

    Sitting in the historic Grade 1 listed Scotland Wing of Auckland Palace, The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, inviting visitors to consider how people across history have…

    Dates

    From:
    18 Feb 2026to24 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous VisitEngland Gold Accolade 2024VisitEngland Gold Accolade
    • Visit England VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2024VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    More info for The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project
  3. Telescope at Grassholme Observatory

    Add Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    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…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Dark Sky Friendly Durham 2020Dark Sky Friendly Durham
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Grassholme Observatory
  4. Children wearing hard hats in Killhope Lead Mine in dark truck full of rocks

    Add Killhope Lead Mining Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 314 reviews314 reviews

    Killhope Lead Mining Museum

    Type

    Type:

    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.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Green Awards Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold 2017Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold
    • Visit England Code of Practice 2017
    • Visit England VisitEngland Hidden Gem 2016VisitEngland Hidden Gem
    • Visit England Best Told Story 2021Best Told Story
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    More info for Killhope Lead Mining Museum
  5. A building and the sea at Seaham Harbour Marina

    Add Seaham Harbour Marina to your Itinerary

    Seaham Harbour Marina

    Type

    Type:

    Marina

    Seaham

    The multi award-winning Seaham Marina is County Durham's one and only marina. The marina provides facilities for 96 boats and is home to a fantastic selection of local businesses. From cafes serving delicious homemade cakes to physiotherapy and…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Seaham Harbour Marina
  6. The Courtyard and Keep of Durham Castle,

    Add Durham Castle to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1406 reviews1406 reviews

    Durham Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Castle / Fort

    Durham City

    Durham Castle is part of the Durham City World Heritage Site. Entrance by guided tour only. Opening can vary - All enquiries re guided tours should be directed Palace Green Library. Telephone 0191 334 2932 or castle.tours@durham.ac.uk.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Durham Castle
  7. Durham Cathedral Tower

    Add Durham Cathedral Tower to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 7262 reviews7262 reviews

    Durham Cathedral Tower

    Type

    Type:

    Tower

    Durham City

    Enjoy spectacular views of the historic city of Durham and the surrounding countryside by climbing the cathedral’s Central Tower. Make a climb up the towers, the high point of your visit to Durham Cathedral.

    Visitors can conquer the 325 steps and…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Durham Cathedral Tower
  8. Hardwick Park at sunset

    Add Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 483 reviews483 reviews

    Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Parkland / Woodland Garden

    Sedgefield

    This VisitEngland accredited attraction is an 18th Century parkland featuring beautiful views, rich heritage, archaeological remains and ecological diversity - a remarkable place to visit. The park is open daily with events held throughout the year.…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    More info for Hardwick Park
  9. Balderhead Reservoir Trout Fishery

    Add Cow Green Wild Brown Trout Fishery to your Itinerary

    Cow Green Wild Brown Trout Fishery

    Type

    Type:

    Fishery

    Baldersdale

    Cow Green Reservoir is one of the best wild brown trout fishery in the country offering fantastic scenery of the North Pennine grouse moors.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Mar 2026to30 Sept 2026
    More info for Cow Green Wild Brown Trout Fishery
  10. Crook Hall Gardens

    Add Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1071 reviews1071 reviews

    Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    National Trust

    Durham City

    The medieval hall merges into a Jacobean manor house, which in turn merges into a Georgian town house, reflecting its development over the centuries. The Hall provides a spectacular backdrop to the stunning 10-acre gardens, paddock and fields,…

    Dates

    From:
    9 Feb 2026to28 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Crook Hall Gardens
  11. External view of the Mining Art Gallery

    Add Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Gallery

    Bishop Auckland

    With three permanent rooms and one temporary exhibition space on the ground floor, the gallery explores working life in the coal mines through original artefacts and artworks by prominent mining artists such as Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Feb 2026to24 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Visit England Visitor Ready 2025Visitor Ready
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project
  12. Bowlees

    Add Bowlees Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 332 reviews332 reviews

    Bowlees Visitor Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Newbiggin

    Situated amidst stunning woodland, near to Low and High Force waterfalls and surrounded by rolling fields that boast some of the best hay meadows in England, Bowlees Visitor Centre has all you need to make your visit to the North Pennines National…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026to29 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Gold 2016North East England Tourism Awards - Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Gold
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Visit England Visitor Ready 2025Visitor Ready
    More info for Bowlees Visitor Centre
  13. Grandad and Granddaughter looking at Locomotion

    Add Locomotion to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1252 reviews1252 reviews

    Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Shildon

    Explore 200 years of railway history in the world’s first railway town at Locomotion, Europe’s largest undercover collection of heritage railway vehicles.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Tourism Event of the Year - Bronze 2014North East England Tourism Awards - Tourism Event of the Year - Bronze
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Locomotion
  14. An arch at night

    Add Stargazing in the North Pennines to your Itinerary

    Stargazing in the North Pennines

    Type

    Type:

    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.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Stargazing in the North Pennines
  15. Hury Reservoir Trout Fishery

    Add Hury Reservoir Trout Fishery to your Itinerary

    Hury Reservoir Trout Fishery

    Type

    Type:

    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.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Mar 2026to31 Oct 2026
    More info for Hury Reservoir Trout Fishery
  16. Brancepeth Castle

    Add Brancepeth Castle to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 42 reviews42 reviews

    Brancepeth Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Castle / Fort

    Durham

    Brancepeth is one of the oldest castles in the North East. The building today is a combination of the Nevilles' medieval stronghold and the grand country house created for the wealthy Russell family in Regency times.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Brancepeth Castle
  17. Blackton Reservoir

    Add Blackton Reservoir Wild Brown Trout Fishery to your Itinerary

    Blackton Reservoir Wild Brown Trout Fishery

    Type

    Type:

    Fishery

    Blackton Reservoir is one of the best wild brown trout fisheries in the country, offering fantastic scenery of the North Pennine Grouse Moors.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Mar 2026to30 Sept 2026
    More info for Blackton Reservoir Wild Brown Trout Fishery
  18. Afternoon tea at Lumley Castle

    Add Afternoon Tea at Lumley Castle to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 3813 reviews3813 reviews

    Afternoon Tea at Lumley Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Restaurant

    Chester-le-Street

    Enjoy one of our delicious Afternoon Teas in our splendid surroundings. Served daily in our Library Bar and Knights Restaurant.

    On busier occasions this may also be served in one of our grand state rooms and during the summer months, this can be…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Afternoon Tea at Lumley Castle
  19. Grassholme Reservoir

    Add Grassholme Reservoir to your Itinerary

    Grassholme Reservoir

    Type

    Type:

    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.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Grassholme Reservoir
  20. Aerial view of forest.

    Add Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 457 reviews457 reviews

    Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Forest

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    Information point and tearoom, forest drive with children's play area. Four mile forest drive runs through the forest giving access to picnic sites along the way.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    More info for Hamsterley Forest
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