Overview
The City of Durham is a captivating destination that offers a wealth of historical and cultural experiences, making it a worthy reason to visit this remarkable county.
By exploring historic sites, including the tomb of Venerable Bede and the treasure of St Cuthbert, you will gain insights into England’s enigmatic history prior to the Norman Conquest.
Two significant rivers, the Tees and Wear, flow eastward through County Durham, creating serene valleys bordered by moorland and hills.
These regions, known as the Durham Dales, encompass many of the county’s most delightful historical towns and stunning landscapes that invite outdoor exploration.
For those seeking unspoiled wilderness, the western part of County Durham, protected by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is the perfect escape.
Let us delve into the most exceptional places in County Durham:
1. Durham
The enchanting City of Durham, characterized by its winding cobblestone streets and rich history, is sure to captivate visitors.
You may find yourself extending your visit to fully immerse in the myriad of discoveries that this city offers.
Commence your exploration at the cathedral, which ranks among England’s most revered monuments, housing essential artifacts of early English history within its library and treasury.
The second cornerstone of Durham’s World Heritage Site is the castle, constructed shortly after the Norman Conquest and featuring informative tours led by student volunteers from Durham University.
Stroll along the picturesque riverside, visit the impressive museums, and venture out to the diverse North Sea coast.
2. Darlington
Darlington takes pride in its historical significance as the birthplace of the first steam-powered passenger trains on the Stockton and Darlington Railway introduced in 1825. The Head of Steam railway museum at the North Road station showcases George Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1, the first locomotive on the line, beautifully preserved.
The Darlington Covered Market is housed in an impressive hall featuring an iron frame, completed in 1863, where family-run stalls sell a variety of products such as flowers, fresh produce, meats, and baked goods from Monday to Saturday.
3. Hartlepool
The narrative of Hartlepool, a coastal town, parallels that of many neighboring locales by the North Sea.
Initially a small settlement, Hartlepool developed into a significant fishing port and shipyard during the 1800s due to the advent of railways and industrial advancement.
Its historic waterfront serves as a fitting backdrop for Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience.
Here, HMS Tricomalee, the oldest British warship still afloat, celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2017. The Hartlepool Museum, located along the quayside, features the world’s first gas-powered lighthouse and delves into the quirky history behind the term “Monkey Hangers” used by Hartlepudlians.
4. Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland derives its name from Auckland Castle, a hunting lodge selected by the Bishops of Durham as their residence over 800 years ago.
Today, Auckland Castle remains an active episcopal palace, situated within 320 hectares of parkland that hosts various intriguing monuments.
Exploring the landscape, you will discover the Stone Deer House, constructed in the Gothic Revival style in 1760, offering food and shelter for the deer.
Bishop Auckland’s Victorian town hall, once at risk of demolition, has been repurposed into a vibrant cultural center featuring a theatre, art gallery, and cinema.
A short distance from the town lies the remains of Vinovia, a Roman fort, which boasts one of the best-preserved hypocausts in Roman Britain.
5. Barnard Castle
Positioned on the northern bank of the River Tees in the Pennines’ eastern foothills, Barnard Castle is a small town renowned for its cultural offerings.
The Bowes Museum houses the premier collection of art and decorative items in Northern England, featuring works by renowned artists such as El Greco, Canaletto, van Dyck, Fragonard, and Goya, alongside an extensive assortment of tapestries, furniture, and ceramics.
A standout exhibit is the Silver Swan, a remarkable clockwork automaton crafted in the 1700s.
Additionally, Barnard Castle showcases captivating ruins, including the eponymous castle built by the Normans in the 12th century overlooking the Tees, and Egglestone Abbey, constructed around the same period and dissolved by Henry VIII in the 1500s.
6. North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The western part of Durham encompasses a remote natural area at the northern edge of the Pennines Range.
This land, characterized by heather moors, hay meadows, and broad valleys sculpted by powerful rivers, offers evidence of human intervention throughout history.
You can explore Bronze Age burial mounds, remnants of historical lead mines, and charming villages that once housed mining communities scattered across the scenic landscapes.
7. Chester-le-Street
In the 10th century, a significant event transpired at the site of the Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert: a priest named Aldred the Scribe completed the earliest translation of the gospels into English, establishing the church as a central hub of Christianity for an area that presently encompasses northeastern England and Scotland.
The present 11th-century church exemplifies architectural grandeur, with markings indicating the use of Roman stone in parts of its construction.
Adjacent to the Wear River lies the Riverside Ground, the home venue for the Durham County cricket team, which also hosts international test matches during the summer months.
8. Seaham
The scenic environment of Seaham is characterized by its rugged and windswept coastline, reflective of its North Sea setting.
During crisp winter days, the raw beauty of the sea and limestone cliffs is evident, allowing visitors to experience the power of the elements along the coastal path before unwinding at a local pub.
In the warmer months, North Beach becomes particularly inviting, sheltered by a breakwater and hosting numerous rock pools for exploration.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is noteworthy for its Anglo-Saxon nave, dated to the late 600s, making it among the oldest churches in the UK.
9. Beamish
Located a short distance west of Newcastle within picturesque upland countryside, Beamish is home to one of the region’s most treasured attractions.
The Beamish Museum is an expansive open-air heritage facility that serves as a chronicle of the past.
The scale of the museum encourages visitors to use vintage trams and buses to navigate its grounds.
Guests can explore an Edwardian town reflecting life around 1913, a 1940s farm complete with period machinery, and the Georgian North showcasing a 1825 farm where regional domestic breeds reside and horse-drawn transport on rails is displayed.
These exhibits are set within a stunning steep-sided valley, with a dedicated cast of reenactors enhancing the experience.
10. Stanhope
Situated alongside the River Wear in the heart of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Stanhope offers a tranquil environment and serves as an excellent starting point for exploring the breathtaking surrounding landscapes of hills and dales.
The Durham Dales Visitor Centre, located near the Church of St Thomas, provides visitors with useful itineraries and trail guides.
Moreover, learn about local historical attractions, including a remarkable fossil tree found in the churchyard, a 320 million-year-old tree stump discovered in a sandstone quarry in 1915.
11. Stockton-on-Tees
This market town served as the eastern terminus for the Stockton and Darlington Railway and was historically one of the Northeast’s leading shipbuilding centers.
However, its most notable contribution is the invention of the friction match by a local chemist in 1827. Preston Park, a large green space southwest of the town, features recently renovated attractions.
Inside the elegant Preston Park Hall, you will find a diverse array of exhibits, including antique stagecoaches, armor, and artworks, alongside insights into life and industry in Stockton from two centuries ago.
The park also features Butterfly World, a warm glasshouse where exotic butterfly species flutter freely amid lush tropical foliage.
12. Middleton-in-Teesdale
Teesdale is celebrated for its breathtaking upland landscapes and remarkable natural formations.
Middleton, also situated within the North Pennines, is conveniently near one of the River Tees’ most stunning features, the High Force Waterfall.
A challenging yet rewarding hike leads to the base of High Force, which, despite not being the tallest waterfall in the country, boasts the highest water volume cascading over an uninterrupted drop when in full flow.
Middleton offers a variety of walking opportunities; the Pennine Way trail, extending 267 miles, passes through this area, and Kirkcarrion, a nearby hill crowned with a Bronze Age burial mound, offers striking views.
13. Shildon
Shildon, previously an East Durham mining town, experienced rapid growth in the late 18th century, providing a transportation network for coal via wagonways visible today at the Beamish Museum.
As industrialization progressed, steam power took precedence, earning Shildon the title of the “Cradle of the Railways.” The Stockton and Darlington Railway was largely constructed and operated by the Shildon Works.
The Shildon Locomotion Museum, established in 2004 at the site of the former works, combines contemporary architecture with relics from historic workshops and the home of Timothy Hackworth, a pioneer engineer.
Among its notable exhibits is Hackworth’s Sans Pareil locomotive from 1829, which participated in the Rainhill Trials, determining which engine would run the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
14. Durham Heritage Coast
With the decline of coal mining and heavy industries, nature has reclaimed areas of Durham long neglected by tourists.
This transformation is evident along the coastal stretch from Sunderland to Hartlepool, which has been designated as Heritage Coast.
Aside from Seaham, the coastline remains largely undeveloped, revealing a pristine, dramatic shoreline ideal for exploration.
The Coastal Footpath follows the North Sea coastline, navigating stunning limestone cliffs and guiding you to breathtaking viewpoints such as Noses Point and the serene beach at Shippersea Bay.
15. Escomb
Earlier, we referenced the Roman fort at Vinovia near Bishop Auckland.
Interestingly, during the 7th century, many of its stones were repurposed for what is now Escomb, situated along the River Wear.
This material was utilized to construct what is believed to be the oldest complete church in England, providing one of only three remaining Anglo-Saxon churches.
History enthusiasts will appreciate the Roman inscriptions and sundials found in the stonework.
