Slit Woods

The woodland walks around Slit Woods, just outside Bishop Auckland, are proper rewarding if you've got a couple of hours to kill and don't mind a bit of mud underfoot. It's a straightforward bit of Durham countryside - nothing flashy, but genuinely pleasant once you're in among the trees. The paths wind through mixed woodland with decent views of the surrounding valleys, and it's the sort of place where you actually hear birdsong instead of traffic.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a strenuous hike, so families with younger kids can manage it without too much grief, though expect the occasional whinge about "how much further." The woodland itself is quiet, which means it's ideal if you're after a proper break from caravan site bustle - you can walk straight from somewhere like Westgate Caravan & Camping Site in under five minutes.

There's no gate, no visitor centre, no car park to speak of. Just find your way in from the edges of Bishop Auckland and go. Completely free. Allow two to three hours if you want to see what's what without rushing. Spring's nice for the bluebells if you time it right; autumn's decent for the colours. Winter can get boggy.

It won't blow your mind, but it does exactly what it says on the tin - gives you a decent woodland walk without faffing about with postcodes or entrance fees. Worth doing if you're camped locally and need to stretch your legs.