Seaham New Plantation

The woodland at Seaham stretches inland from the coast, offering proper shelter when the North Sea wind picks up. It's not vast - you're looking at a pleasant woodland walk rather than a full day's tramping - but it does the job well if you're based nearby or passing through on the way between Stockton-on-Tees and the coast.

There's something rather straightforward about New Plantation. You get trees, paths, and if you time it right, dappled light through the canopy. It's the sort of place where families with younger kids can burn off energy without worrying about getting properly lost, and walkers can knock out a decent circuit before lunch. The forest floor changes with the seasons - muddy and atmospheric in winter, greener and more inviting come spring.

It works well as a break from a caravan stay at nearby Donnewell Farm. You're only three miles away, so it's ideal for a morning ramble before heading down to the actual coastline at Seaham or inland towards Stockton. The trees provide genuine shelter too, which matters more than you'd think when you're camping in County Durham.

Bring proper shoes if it's been wet. The paths are fine, but this is forest floor we're talking about - it holds water. An hour or two is realistic unless you're the type to sit still and listen to birds. It's free to roam, which is how these things should be.