Swim at Teesdale Leisure Centre, tackle the indoor climbing wall or entertain smaller kids in the play area. Play crazy golf, laser tag or bowling half an hour away at Planet Leisure in Aycliffe. Catch music and shows at Mickleton Community Centre. Or book a tailored trek for one or two hours through lovely scenery with Teesdale Alpacas.
Journey through time to the birthplace of Stephenson’s Rocket and see what life was like in the 1840s at Darlington Railway Museum. Stick around for David Mach’s train sculpture. Or see North-East life through the ages in a huge outdoor museum at Beamish. Catch a tram, find out about the ‘netty’, and get a beehive hairdo.
Catch the flicks at Vue Cinemas in Darlington or live shows at Darlington Hippodrome. Stick around to get stuck into arts and crafts at Create and Paint. See the deer at Raby Castle and refuel in the café. Meet owls and falcons at Walworth Birds of Prey. Or take a lazy river walk at Broken Scar Picnic Area.
Discover lovely beaches at Seaham (hunt for pretty sea glass) and South Shields. Head over to Bedale for an authentic, hands-on farming experience at Big Sheep and Little Cow Farm to hold and feed chinchillas, goats, pigs, llamas, donkeys, and a beautiful Shetland pony. Or enjoy interactive fun at The Bowes Museum.
Ask about fly-fishing and shooting experiences: we’ll set them up close by. Or head out to local waterfalls. Walk from the Bowlees Visitor Centre over the wobbly Wynch Bridge, past Low Force to raging High Force and beyond to Cauldron Snout. Or take the shorter stroll from the High Force Hotel.
Book a stargazing experience in this geopark at the hotel and see High Force spotlit in the dark from below. Catch the Northern Lights from Whistle Crag. Pop back to the same layby in the daytime for a lovely valley view. Or take the shorter walk from the Bowlees to Summerhill Force and Gibson’s Cave. Return for coffee and cake.
Walk the old railway path from Middleton-in-Teesdale through lovely villages, Mickleton, Romaldkirk and Cotherstone, stopping for fortification at classic country pubs. Book an evening staring at stars at Grassholme Observatory. Climb Mickle Fell, shoot clay with Teesdale Gun Club or bring your clubs for Barnard Castle Golf Club.
Take a tour of Raby Castle or watch out for regular events. Explore a world-class collection of art at The Bowes Museum. Learn all about the influential Prince Bishops at Durham Cathedral. Potter the quirky independents in Barnard Castle. Or take a 40-minute trip to The Lakes or be in stunning Swaledale within half an hour.
