3-Bedroom Hot Tub Cottage in Eastgate

Hall Hill Farm is an award-winning farm attraction near Tow Law in County Durham. It has been open to the public since 1981 and is still a working farm, run by the family who have farmed here since 1925. The land covers 290 hectares of grassland, woodland and crops, and the farm is home to over a thousand sheep.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online, and the farm can be phoned on 01388 731333 for help with pre-booking.

Raby Castle is a Grade I listed medieval castle near Staindrop in County Durham, built by the Nevilles between about 1367 and 1390. It has nine towers, a Neville Gateway with grooves still visible from its portcullises, and a large art collection including works by old masters and portraits. It remains a private family home, and the grounds include 200 acres of deer park.

Tip: Pre-booking tickets online is recommended to get the best price.

Beamish is a living, open-air museum on a 350-acre site in County Durham, telling the story of everyday life in the North East. Original, moved and replica buildings are staffed by costumed engagers, with live demonstrations and hands-on activities. Trams and buses carry you between the different areas.

Tip: Book your pass online before you visit for faster entry, and download the map to your phone or pick one up at the Entrance Building.

Durham Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site. A substantial part of the building was completed between 1093 and 1133, and it is a significant example of Romanesque architecture. The nave ceiling is the earliest surviving example of a pointed rib vault.

Tip: There is no parking at or near the cathedral, so use the Park and Ride or the Cathedral Bus into Durham. The tower is stairs only.

The Bowes Museum is an art gallery in Barnard Castle, County Durham, built in the style of a French château and set in landscaped parkland overlooking Teesdale countryside. It was purpose-built to house the collection of John Bowes and his wife Joséphine, and opened in 1892.

Tip: Check the museum's website for the current Silver Swan showing times before you go, as they differ on bank holidays and school holidays.

Locomotion is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, part of the Science Museum Group. It sits beside the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway, and houses locomotives from the National Collection, including Sans Pareil and the unique APT-E and Deltic units.

Tip: Pets aren't admitted, though working assistance dogs are welcome. Check the website for event days before you go.

Brancepeth Castle is a Grade I listed castle in County Durham, about five miles south-west of Durham city. The first castle on the site was Norman, rebuilt by the Nevilles in the late 14th century. The present building is largely the work of the early 19th century, with later improvements by Anthony Salvin.

Tip: The castle is only open to visitors on certain days each year, so check its website and book a tour before you go.

High Force is a waterfall on the River Tees, near Middleton-in-Teesdale in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The whole river plunges 70 feet over a cliff edge in two stages. After heavy rain the river also flows over the usually dry right-hand channel, making two falls. In harsh winters the falls have been known to freeze into cathedral-like ice formations.

Tip: The southern bank is free via the Pennine Way; the northern bank is a private Raby estate path with a fee. Visit after heavy rain to see the extra side channel flowing.