Discover Durham: Forest, Coast and Culture

County Durham combines historic towns, rural landscapes and coastline. For a trip with a hotel stay, you can focus on forests and nature, coastal activities, or museums and railway history. When choosing where to stay, consider which experiences you want to shape your days.

Forests, nature reserves and coastline

Hamsterley Forest is the largest forest in County Durham and offers an extensive network of walking routes and trails. There are also mountain biking opportunities and disc golf; you can pick up discs at the visitor centre. This means a range of activities are available: routes and trails for walking, mountain biking opportunities and a round of disc golf.

The Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve covers 221 hectares of woodland and lowland grassland. It is home to more than 450 plant species, as well as deer and foxes. A short, accessible path starts at the car park by the lodge. If conditions affect the paths, access may also change.

A 11-mile coastal path runs along the Durham Heritage Coast. Seaham offers spectacular cycle rides along the cliffs; visitors can also look for Seaham sea glass there. The Durham Heritage Coast is internationally recognised for its rare plants and wildlife. Those interested in nighttime nature experiences will find one of the darkest skies in the country in the North Pennines, making it ideal for stargazing.

Museums and railway history

Beamish Museum is a living museum: visitors walk through historic streets, meet costumed performers and see traditional crafts in action. The museum can also be visited without a car. Check current services before travelling.

Locomotion is located in Shildon, the world’s first railway town. A significant date in railway history is 27 September 1825: on that day, the world’s first fare-paying passenger rail journey took place on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. These two facts offer different points of interest if you are interested in railway heritage.

The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle is a Grade I listed, accredited museum; its grounds are Grade II listed. It preserves a designated collection of European fine and decorative art. The Church of St Mary in Seaham offers a different historical perspective: it may date from the 8th century and was restored in 1913.

Waterfall, wildlife park and trip planning

Raby Castle is a castle built in the 14th century by the influential Neville family. Its 200-acre deer park is home to red deer and fallow deer. At High Force, a circular walking route leads through the forest to the base of the 21-metre-high waterfall. Much of the High Force estate lies within the North Pennines National Landscape and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Check current notices on site.

You can explore County Durham by train, bus, bicycle or on foot. In Durham, the Cathedral Bus connects Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle with the railway station and the coach drop-off area at Freeman’s Place; check current operating days in advance. You should also check current public transport services before your trip.

When choosing a hotel, you can organise your plans around your main interests: Hamsterley Forest and Castle Eden Dene offer different nature and walking experiences, Seaham combines coastal activities, and museums and railway history add cultural appeal. This lets you choose where to stay based on the experiences you want to prioritise during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pelton, Woodland, Tow Law, Shildon, Horden, Bishop Middleham, West Auckland, Spennymoor, Shincliffe, Sedgefield, Newton Aycliffe, Evenwood, Durham, Wycliffe, Witton-Le-Wear, Staindrop, Ebchester, Romaldkirk, Byers Green, High Etherley, Hunwick, Headlam, Bowburn, Stanhope, Haswell, Chester-Le-Street, Burnhope, Sacriston, Seaham, Hutton Magna, Wolsingham, Middleton-In-Teesdale, Lanchester, West Rainton, Stanley, Peterlee, Shotley Bridge, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Croxdale, Crook, Consett

For the regional travel overview: North East England.