20 Outdoors- Other to Explore in Durham

Baldersdale is a dale, or valley, on the east side of the Pennines in England, northwest of Barnard Castle. Its principal settlements are Hury and Briscoe. Baldersdale lies within the traditional boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire. The river flows through three reservoirs on the way: Balderhead Reservoir, Blackton Reservoir, and Hury Reservoir. Running roughly parallel to Baldersdale to the north is Lunedale.

Dramatic moorland situated on either side of the arterial A66 road. Little changed since Roman times. most of it covered by blanket bog, which supports significant breeding populations of a number of wading birds. Many Roman artifacts have been found here over the years, including a Roman aqueduct.

Burnhope Reservoir is a reservoir above the village of Wearhead, County Durham, England. There are 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 Pennines AONB. The reservoir supplies water to the Wear Valley treatment works at Wearhead and there is a pipeline connection to Waskerley Reservoir, which supplies Honey Hill water treatment works.

Castle Eden Dene is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve in the Easington district of County Durham, England. It is located mostly in Peterlee, between the A19 and A1086 roads. The dene is the largest, and biologically the richest, of a series of deep ravines that have been incised through the Magnesian Limestone and overlying boulder clay of coastal Durham by streams flowing into the North Sea.

A hidden natural fountain with supposedly healing water that tastes like rotten eggs. This mineral spring can be found in Gainford. With a very high sulphur content the gases omit a foul bad egg smell which may put you off tasting it, but as soon as the smell clears the water appear fresh and cold. The noticeably sulphurous minerals contained in the water were thought to be health-giving and the well soon became a tourist attraction and there were unfulfilled plans to pipe the water to a pavili

Gibside Estate is situated on the steep, southern slopes of the Derwent Valley. It is now a National Trust property. Gibside Hall, the main house on the estate, is now a shell, although the property is most famous for its chapel. The stables, walled garden, Column to Liberty and Banqueting House are also intact.

Hall Hill Farm is a tourist attraction Set in the attractive countryside with the opportunity to see and touch animals at close quarters. Farm trailer ride, barrel train, gift shop, tearoom, picnic, and indoor and outdoor play areas. there is a wide variety of animals including both large and small, from chicks, pigs, goats, deer, sheep, donkeys, ponies to llamas and highland cattle. It covers 290 hectares, consisting of 140 hectares of grassland, 40 hectares of woodland, and the remainder for

One of the picturesque locations where you can spend some nice time from wildlife watching to stargazing, and adventure play for all the family to exhilarating mountain biking, there is something to keep everyone busy. 2000 hectares of mixed scenic woodland lying between the Wear and Tees valleys on the edge of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Hannah’s Meadow Nature Reserve is a Durham Wildlife Trust site with species-rich upland hay meadows and grazing pasture in Baldersdale, County Durham. This meadow was once owned by, and is named after, Hannah Hauxwell who was featured in a famous TV documentary series in the 1970's - Too Long a Winter. The reserve consists of two species rich, unimproved upland hay meadows and a grazing pasture in a traditional farming landscape in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Harehope Quarry Project is based in a former limestone quarry near the village of Frosterley in County Durham. The project aims to demonstrate a more sustainable way of living through its education and events programme and through the development and management of this Local Wildlife Site.

The North Pennines is a stunning landscape of open heather moors and peatlands, attractive dales and hay meadows, tumbling upland rivers, wonderful woods, welcoming communities, intriguing imprints of a mining and industrial past, distinctive birds, animals and plants and much more. The area has previously been mined and quarried for minerals such as barytes, coal fluorspar, iron, lead, witherite and zinc.

Nose's Point is a double Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geology and ecology. The site has now been reclaimed into one of the most stunning gateway sites on the Durham Heritage Coast. Wildflower meadows have been restored, ponds have been created for wildlife, seating areas, artwork and interpretation have been specially designed to reflect the heritage of the area.

The Pennine Way was the first National Trail in England and is one of the UK's most famous long-distance walks. It starts at Edale in the Peak District and ends at Kirk Yetholm in the Borders, just inside Scotland. The highest point reached by the standard route is 893m at the summit of Cross Fell. Trekkers completing the whole Pennine Way take typically three weeks. The route also lends itself to shorter trips.

Pow Hill is set in moorland overlooking the Derwent Reservoir. The word Pow comes from Old English and means ‘slow-moving stream’ which refers to the waterlogged boggy area in the north of the site. Rain falling on the surrounding moors is absorbed into the peaty ground. Water then seeps downhill into basins and shallow valleys, creating bogs. Conserved for its special wildlife interest, the area is home to goldcrests, coal tits, roe deer and red squirrels.

Selset Reservoir is a reservoir in County Durham, England. It is situated in Lunedale which is a side valley of the River Tees. It is one of four of the very best wild brown trout fisheries in the UK that we have in the stunning Teesdale countryside. This iconic location is a best place to relax and also you can spend a good time here.

One of the unique venues with a range of attractions such as a tearoom offering homemade hot and cold meals, specialty coffees and teas, gift shops and speciality craft shops, gardens, visitor information, function room, and business offices. The grounds of the Centre boasts a wonderful site, also home to a wonderful sculpture, covered in lots of fossils, known as Frosterley Marble.

The Waskerley Way is a 16km route running from Parkhead Station above Stanhope in Weardale to Lydgetts Junction. An entirely off road route using the National Cycle Network, suitable for mountain, hybrid or cross bikes from the heart of Newcastle along the Tyne and Derwent valleys and then the Waskerley Way right on the cusp of the Pennines.

Tweddle Children’s farm park is an animal farm near Hartlepool in County Durham. They have lots of family-friendly animals to meet and play areas. They have two crazy golf course, one indoors and one outdoors. They have lots of friendly animals to meet and lots of hands-on opportunities such as bottle feeding and bunny cuddling.

Waldridge Fell is a Site of Special Scientific Interest located immediately south-west of Chester-le-Street in the northern part of County Durham, England. It is one of the largest areas of lowland heath in County Durham and contains the only lowland valley-mire in the county. The fell is home to a number of plants and insects that are scarce to rare elsewhere in the county.

Weardale, one of the Durham Dales, was once the hunting ground of County Durham’s Prince Bishops. This spectacular dale has beautiful historic settlements, great attractions and exhilarating landscapes to discover. Explore this stunning area either by car, on foot, on horseback or by bicycle or motorbike – there’s actually more miles of foot and cycle paths in the county than roads, so visitors feel far away from their busy lives.