Bishop Auckland

Railway towns don't get much more characterful than this former market centre in County Durham's rolling countryside. Bishop Auckland wears its industrial heritage proudly - the old railway workshops that once employed half the town have left their mark on the red-brick streets that slope down from the market square.

Raby Castle dominates the landscape just outside town, and it's a proper medieval fortress worth the short drive. The 14th-century stronghold sits in acres of parkland where deer still roam, making it one of the largest and best-preserved castles in North East England. St Andrew's Church in nearby Winston is worth seeking out too - it's got some cracking Norman stonework.

Countryside here rolls away in all directions. The Durham Dales start properly just west of town, with walking trails threading through villages like Cockfield and Winston. Adventure Paws Dog Walking Field might sound modern, but the landscape around it is classic County Durham - stone walls, scattered farms, and those distinctive field patterns that look brilliant from Cocksure Hill.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Bishop Auckland sits right on the A688, with regular bus services from Durham city. The old railway station might have lost its passenger services, but the town centre's compact enough to explore on foot once you arrive.

Holiday parks scattered around the area make perfect sense for exploring both the market town itself and the wider county. You're close enough for a proper wander around the shops and pubs, but far enough out to wake up to countryside views and that particular Durham Dales quiet you only get away from the main roads.