High Force Waterfall, nr Middleton-in-Teesdale (www.graeme-peacock.com)

Around Frosterley

Frosterley is a small ancient village set in a conservation area, designated an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.

Ideally situated on the banks of the river Wear, the village is surrounded by beautiful open countryside with glorious scenery. There is a village pub, serving food with evening entertainment, and a passenger steam railway stops at Frosterley station on its run between Wolsingham and Stanhope.

Weardale & Teesdale

  • Stanhope – The ‘capital’ of Weardale, visit Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope Castle, tearooms, open air swimming pool, shopping, pubs serving meals. 
  • Wolsingham – tearooms, antique shop, pubs serving meals, local park. Wolsingham Show in September. 
  • The Weardale Railway – opened in 2004 a steam railway running 5 miles between Wolsingham and Stanhope and soon to have a direct line to London.
  • Weardale Way. 
  • Hamsterley Forest 
  • Ireshopeburn – The Weardale Museum and High House Chapel, the World’s oldest Methodist chapel still in continuous weekly use. Wesley preached here and the adjoining small folk museum includes a Wesley room, local history and mineral displays.

More Links:
Explore Weardale  •  Exploring Teesdale • Wolsingham Show • Stanhope Show • Ski in Weardale • Weardale Way • Durham County Cricket Club

County Durham

  • Durham City – Historic Durham City, with its stunning castle and cathedral – a World Heritage Site, founded in 1093. The small and beautiful university city of Durham is undoubtedly the jewel in County Durham’s crown.
  • The Durham Dales – Some of England’s highest and wildest scenery, part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  • The Bowes Museum – magnificent French style chateau set in 23 acres of parkland.
  • Killhope – The North of England Lead Mining Museum, with visitor centre, shop and cafe.
  • Beamish Open Air Museum – North of England Open Air Museum, living museum of the year 2004 and best UK attraction 2004, nationally recognised as one of the Country’s to visitor attractions, vividly recreating Northern Life in years gone by. 
  • Beamish Wild
  • Tanfield Railway – World’s oldest existing railway, originally opened in 1725, 3 mile steam railway which travels over Causing Arch the World’s oldest surviving railway bridge. 
  • Raby Castle Park and Gardens – near Staindrop, one of England’s finest mediaeval castles. 
  • Locomotion Railway Museum – at Shildon, new attraction opened 2004, the first ever “out of station” for the National Railway Museum, houses up to 60 vehicles from the national collection.
  • Hadrian’s Wall is within easy reach.

Further Afield

A little further afield and well worth visiting are: NorhumberlandNorth YorkshireThe Yorkshire DalesNewcastle and Gateshead and The Lake District.

Enjoy more photographs of North East England by Graeme Peacock