Tinley Bank

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination you'd plan a day around, but Tinley Bank delivers if you're camping near Barnard Castle and want to stretch your legs. It's a forest patch - the kind of place where you crunch through leaf litter, spot the odd bird, and remember why you came to County Durham in the first place.

The trees form a decent canopy, and there's enough path to wander without needing a map. Nothing dramatic happens here. No viewpoint, no visitor centre, no gift shop selling flapjacks. It's just wood and quiet, which is either exactly what you want or frankly a bit dull depending on your mood.

Kids under eight will get bored within thirty minutes. Walkers after a proper hike will find it too short. But if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Hetherick, Teesdale, or Barnard Castle's club site are all close - and you've got an hour to kill before tea, it's worth the short drive from town. The forest's close enough to make it a convenient leg-stretch, far enough that it feels like you've actually gone somewhere.

I'd suggest visiting midweek if possible. Weekends bring more foot traffic than the woodland really merits. Best in autumn when the light filters through properly, worst in wet summer when mud makes it feel longer than it actually is. Free to wander - there's no gate, no car park, just a place to stop and walk. Allow forty minutes if you amble, twenty if you're just burning time between camp and supper.