John Hare's Wood

The entrance to John Hare's Wood is easy to miss if you're not paying attention - just a turning off the road near Durham with a small sign. Once you're in, though, the place opens up into proper woodland, the kind where you can actually lose yourself for an afternoon without bumping into crowds.

It's a straightforward walk through mixed forest - nothing dramatic, no peaks or viewpoints, just trees and paths and the occasional clearing. Bring the kids if they like exploring, though they'll probably get restless after an hour or so unless they're the type to spend half the day spotting birds or collecting fallen branches. Adults after a quiet countryside walk will find it refreshing enough, a nice break from the harder routes around Teesdale and the Pennines.

The wood works brilliantly as a half-day outing if you're based at Woodside Ridge Caravan Park just down the road - less than four miles - or using Durham as your base. No fees as far as anyone can tell, and there's no formal opening times, so you can arrive early or stay late depending on daylight. Allow a couple of hours to see it properly without rushing.

Don't expect anything sensational or you'll be disappointed. It's the sort of place you enjoy precisely because nothing much happens there - no gift shops, no crowds, no fuss. Honest woodland walking, the way it should be.