Upper Weardale Holiday Lodges

No one will judge you if you decide to spend your whole break cosied up in your luxurious lodge – but with such lovely landscapes around it’s worth getting out a bit if you can. There are lots of walking and bike trails within a few miles of Upper Weardale, most of them within the boundaries of the North Pennines National Landscape. For a different outdoor activity, head to Weardale Adventures (10 minutes’ drive), where the options include watersports (canoeing, paddleboarding and open-water swimming among them), guided hill walks and adventurous activities like caving and gorge walking. Not up for that? The Weardale Railway Trust runs heritage services on selected days from Stanhope (five minutes) for a more leisurely way to take in the views. Dip into local history at The Bowes Museum, packed with decorative arts and fashion displays, or take a seat at Kynren for a spectacular open-air show telling the story of England with around a thousand performers, plus horses, music, fireworks and some fabulous effects. Both are a little over a half-hour drive away.