Drinkfield Nature Reserve

A strip of woodland and wetland just outside Shildon that punches above its weight if you know what to look for. Drinkfield Nature Reserve is the sort of place you'll either love or walk straight through in twenty minutes, depending on whether you're the type to stop and actually watch things.

The reserve centres on a small lake fringed with reeds and alder trees, with a network of paths that let you loop around without feeling hemmed in. It's genuinely good for spotting waterfowl - grebes, herons, the usual suspects - and the lack of crowds means you'll actually hear them rather than just see them disappear into the distance. Spring and early summer are when it really comes alive; winter's less forgiving.

Families with young kids will find it manageable but unremarkable. It's not a destination in itself - more the sort of place you tag onto a broader County Durham walk if you're staying at somewhere like Eden Grange Glamping nearby. The paths are flat enough for pushchairs when conditions are decent, though wet weather turns them into a bit of a slog.

Birdwatchers and naturalists will get actual value from a proper visit with binoculars and a field guide. Everyone else should manage an hour or so without boredom setting in. There's a decent sense of being away from things despite Shildon being just down the road, which counts for something. Free to access and no obvious facilities, so come prepared.