Ravens Crag Linn

The waterfall itself isn't particularly tall - maybe 20 feet or so - but what makes Ravens Crag Linn worth the walk is the gorge it sits within. You're hiking through proper woodland here, following the River Derwent as it cuts down through sandstone, and the whole thing feels surprisingly wild for somewhere so close to Consett. The crag looms up on the opposite bank, dark and dramatic, especially after rain when the water's properly flowing.

It's a straightforward riverside walk of about an hour return from the car park, popular with local families at weekends though rarely crowded. The path can be muddy and steep in sections - decent boots are the move. You'll cross a small footbridge and the final approach to the falls themselves is a bit scrambled, nothing technical but not a pushover for very young kids.

Walkers and photography types get the most from this one. The light's tricky to judge because the crag blocks out the sun for much of the day, but that moody quality works in its favour. It's free to visit and open year-round, though winter floods can make parts impassable.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Allensford Holiday Park is barely a mile away - this is an easy add-on to a day exploring the Derwent Valley. Worth combining with a walk further downstream towards Edmundbyers if you've got more time. Not somewhere to plan a whole day around, but a proper little find on the doorstep of Consett.