Local AreaThings to do and places to visit during your stay
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is a traditional market town and the capital of Teesdale. It is a popular destination for tourists, offering a good selection of family-run cafes, shops, pubs and The Witham arts centre, the medieval ruins of the 12th century castle, river and woodland walks and The Bowes Museum.
Bowes Museum
This magnificent building was purpose-built by John and Joséphine Bowes, who wanted to create a world-class museum for their collections in John’s ancestral home of Teesdale. It opened to the public on 10th June, 1892, and attracted nearly 63,000 visitors in its first year.
Yorkshire dales
Explore the vast network of bridleways and footpaths across Arkengarthdale and Swaledale. The scenery is stunning with picturesque villages and a network of drystone walls running up to craggy tops and down to traditional hay meadows and field barns in the valleys. Plenty of lead mining history, too.
Egglestone Abbey
Downriver, follow the path to Egglestone Abbey, a ruined monastery on the banks of the River Tees. This is a lovely two-mile circular walk from the door of 1 Teesdale Road.
Raby Castle
This enchanting Medieval castle near the village of Staindrop is the seat of Lord and Lady Barnard. It has an excellent collection of art, porcelain, textiles and furniture on display in beautiful interior rooms, together with a captivating deer park, walled garden, café and shop.
Hamsterley Forest
County Durham’s largest commercial forest is a 2,000-acre oasis of mixed woodland in the heart of the Durham Dales. From wildlife watching to a network of walking and running routes to cycling and mountain bike trails, there is something to keep everyone busy.
High Force
Surrounded by the beautiful landscape of Upper Teesdale, an area of outstanding beauty, High Force is an impressive 20 metre waterfall on the Pennine Way path. You can also walk from here to the smaller, but equally stunning, Low Force falls. Also definitely worth a visit, whether by car, cycle or on one of the many footpaths, are the six reservoirs. From the tranquillity of Hury to the wilds of Cow Green, you can breathe in the fresh air and enjoy vast open spaces while enjoying the awesome scenery. This is Teesdale.
Auckland Park
The Auckland Project, in nearby Bishop Auckland, welcomes you to a collection of galleries, gardens, parkland and events, all established around Auckland Castle. The castle replaced Durham Castle as the official residence of the Bishops of Durham in 1832 and is now being developed as a major visitor attraction. Visitors to the town itself can immerse themselves in the recently opened Spanish Gallery or the Mining Art Gallery or enjoy a summer evening show of Kynren: ‘an epic tale of the history of England ’.
Durham cathedral
Visit Durham, our Cathedral city, which sits on the meandering banks of the River Wear. Both Durham Cathedral and Castle are UNESCO World Heritage sites. From Palace Green follow the Bailey to the bustling weekly town market and a permanent indoor market, both centred on the Market Place. The surrounding streets are one of the main shopping areas of the city, or enjoy a riverside walk, crossing the river at one of the historic bridges.