Huggill Force

The waterfall itself isn't enormous - you'd be disappointed if you turned up expecting something like High Force down the road. But that's rather the point. Huggill Force rewards the people who actually bother to walk the valley instead of just snapping the famous ones and moving on.

It's a short, straightforward walk from Barnard Castle, following the Tees upstream through proper Teesdale woodland. The path is well-trodden and the water does its thing year-round, though it's far more impressive after rain when it actually throws its weight around. On a dry summer day it's more of a trickle, which some find disappointing.

Walkers will appreciate the whole loop - it's not a destination in itself but part of a decent morning's exercise with company en route. Families with younger kids find it manageable since there's no scrambling required, though the riverside path can be muddy and slippery in places. You're looking at maybe 45 minutes to an hour round trip if you potter.

Stay at The Old Armoury Campsite just 1.5 miles away and you've got a proper base for exploring the wider Teesdale waterfalls. High Force is the showstopper, but if you've got the time and the legs, threading together a few smaller falls makes for a far better day out than ticking off just the headline act. Free to visit, obviously. Go early or late in the day to avoid the crowds heading for the bigger names.