Low Plantation

Low Plantation is a proper working forest just outside Barnard Castle, the sort of place where you can actually walk without bumping into coach parties. It's coniferous woodland - mainly spruce and pine - with a decent network of trails that wind through the trees and, if you're lucky with the weather, offer glimpses across the Pennines.

The main appeal here is straightforward: woodland walking. Families with younger kids will find it manageable enough, though the paths can be muddy and uneven after rain. Serious walkers use it as part of longer routes through the area, and it's genuinely quiet on weekdays. The forest has that slightly austere feel you get in planted woodlands - it's not ancient or wildly picturesque, but it's peaceful and a world away from the bustle of Barnard Castle itself.

Walking boots are essential, and you'll want a map or to know the trails beforehand - it's easy to lose your bearings among the trees. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a proper circuit. Spring brings some colour through, but autumn's probably best when the light cuts through the canopy properly.

If you're staying at Leekworth Caravan Park or Mickleton Mill, both just four miles away, this makes a solid morning out without any driving around. It won't eat up a whole day, so combine it with Barnard Castle's castle and high street, or push further afield. Not spectacular, but genuinely useful for a bit of forest air and leg-stretching.