Waskerley Park

The moorland around Waskerley Park, just outside Consett, feels properly wild for somewhere so close to civilisation. This nature reserve spreads across open countryside where you'll find walking trails threading through heather and grassland, with views that stretch across the Pennines on a clear day. The reservoir itself is the draw - a tranquil stretch of water that attracts birdwatchers year-round. In autumn and winter you might spot visiting wildfowl; spring brings breeding birds if you're patient enough to sit still.

Walkers will get the most from this place. There's no playground or visitor centre to speak of, so don't bring young children expecting entertainment. But if you're after a solid two-hour ramble from your caravan at one of the parks nearby - Bonners Lodge is barely a mile away - Waskerley delivers without fuss. The paths are decent enough, though muddy in wet weather, and the whole experience feels like you've properly escaped rather than ticked off a tourist spot.

Access appears to be free, and you can visit year-round, though spring and early autumn offer the best light and weather. Allow two to three hours if you're walking the longer loop. The reserve sits well within striking distance of other moorland walks in the area, making it a natural fit if you're basing yourself at any of the caravan parks strung between Consett and Stanhope. It's the sort of place locals know well and visitors often miss - which is rather the point.