Derwent Reservoir Car Park (Dam South)

The car park at Derwent Reservoir's southern dam is the kind of place you don't plan for - you stumble on it while driving through County Durham and realise you've got something rather good on your hands. It's a proper vantage point overlooking the water, with the dam itself stretching across in front of you and moorland rolling away beyond. You can park up, stretch your legs, and take in the view without much fuss. The walk along the dam wall itself is straightforward and worth doing, especially on a clear day when you can see right across the valley.

Walkers will get the most from this spot. It's the kind of place to pause on a longer hike rather than a destination in itself - park up for twenty minutes, grab some air, then move on. Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless you combine it with a longer walk through the surrounding moorland, which is genuinely good for an afternoon's rambling.

There's no admission fee to use the car park, and it's accessible year-round. Allow thirty minutes to an hour if you're taking the dam walk at a leisurely pace. The nearest town is Consett, just a handful of miles away, which makes it a natural stop if you're staying at any of the caravan parks dotted around the area - Village Green Holiday Park sits especially close at under a mile away. It's not dramatic or showy, but it's a solid break from the road with actual views to show for it.