Hi
We are going for three nights in August. We’re looking for nice pubs and things to do with two girls aged four and six please.
Thanks for any local knowledge in advance
Avoid Bishop Auckland!
Hamsterley Forest is the nearest well-known attraction, Raby Castle is also good for a wander.
Park at Bowlees just outside Middleton-in-Teesdale and wander down to the suspension bridge and Low Force on the Tees. You can walk up to High Force from there, although the best views are from the other side.
Obviously, Barnard Castle for all your eye test needs. The town is nice, has a castle, ice cream etc.
Not sure what the pubs closest to you are like, I like the Three Tuns in Eggleston, there is a cafe attached to the Eggleston Hall Gardens which is decent and popular. I've got a soft spot for the Langdon Beck Hotel, but I've no idea if it's even still open!
I get my coal there on the way home from work sometimes
There's a Cheesmaker's (Blessed are the Cheesmakers)
Hamsterley
Erm...
Nice one thanks!
What’s 11 arches like?
Sorry, wasn't a thing when I lived around there. Bishop was mainly about getting looked at funny in McDonalds.
Looks quite good! 🙂
Another one I forgot about was Beamish Museum, which is a bit further away, but decent fun. There's always Diggerland, too, hopefully with better health and safety than in the early 00s.
Low force to high force walk round the bridges. Cauldron Snout in Teesdale is always impressive. Lead mining museum in Stanhope. Wolsingham and Stanhope are nice villages. Hamsterly will likely have good kiddy walking and cycling trails (although never done them). Weardale railway. Bowes museum is good and often has kids activities on in the summer, check the website as you may have to book. Barnard Castle in town of the same name (watch out for the newfound myopic selfie tourists).
As for Bishop it has a large supermarket and the station but little else touristy as far as I can think.
Plenty of play equipment in Hamsterley forest and they did have a themed walk with goody bags for the kids.
Not been,but the cheese farm cafe is highly rated by my cycling club.
I believe there is live music going to be on outside the Withens cafe in Barnard Castle every weekend up to the end of August. It's free.
Bishop Auckland Castle may have something on but that's all I would go into Bishop for.
As far as I know the Lead Mining museum at Killhope is now free including the underground tours.
Kynren at 11arches starts up again in August. Is quite the show and well worth a look. The kids and yourselves will be impressed.
Pubs.Avoid any in Cockfield,Butterknowle and Evenwood. I wouldn't take children in them. The Fir Tree Inn up at ......Fir Tree is really nice and did good food. Last time I had a meal at the pub in Hamsterley it was very poor. Also the pub in Ingleton,over from Evenwood Gate,gets very good reviews and always seems busy.
So my experience of Bishop is limited...
I've eaten here and it was good.
https://goo.gl/maps/dxxkn5Pr3urM2PUV6
I also have to give the 50s tea room a plug
https://g.page/Fifteas?share
It's a "regular" for me when I ride through for 2 reasons. Firstly, the food is really nice, secondly the people are too. I came through the first time with a friend on a cx ride. We were filthy and asked if we could take away as we didn't want to go in. They went and found some hard chairs moved some furniture to put us on the hard floor area and gave us a hot drink while we waited to eat in.
Kynren would be worth a look. It is planned to go ahead. They are adding more to the show each year so there is now more of a day park (viking village) where you can meet the animals, go to the blacksmiths and other such things. They are putting on a horse stunt show (Fina and the Golden Cape) and there is the main show in the evening as well. You can wave at my wife, she's in the cavalry team.
Steam train? https://www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/ (there's some good gravel right next to it!)
If you wanted a family walk then there are some interesting bits of the Tees. There's a nice riverside path from the Bowlees visitors centre from low force up to high force.
https://goo.gl/maps/fM8vcYy9S2HmTFy96
They might be a bit young for diggerland. But I hear good things, mostly from dad's who enjoy driving the JCBs more than the kids!
It's a beautiful part of the world but as implied by Joeegg is still very polarised by mining and mine closures. Definitely do a drive by before booking a pub to eat in as the contrast between villages only a mile apart can be as big as between areas of a large city. Most people are friendly but places like Tow Law are still run down and can be rough. Maybe I'm biased as things have improved since I went out with a Wolsingham lass 25+ years ago but the polarity is still, sadly, very noticeable. Lots of good option for a week's holiday.
Forgot to mention above if your 2 are train nuts (less likely with girls perhaps) the National Rail Museum has its Northern branch at Sheldon and is free and worth a visit. My lad thought it heaven when he was 6.
I’ve only heard good things about Kynren!
Already said but as someone with kids just a bit older than yours, in no particular order:
Really close:
High (and Low) Force the improved High Force walk and kids trail is nice.
Hamsterley has an excellent play trail
Bowes Museum / Barnard Castle/Raby Castle
A little Further north/West but not that far
Beamish Museum *
Hall Hill Farm - great for kids your ages
Adventure Valley & Durham City generally
Forest Adventure @Broom Hall Farm - some bits might be a bit much for a 4 yo, but still good, cheap enough and the cafe there is good too. Easily combined with a Durham trip as the Durham P&R is only about a mile away.
* Beamish is worth the trip whatever your plans.
EDIT/ALSO:
Wolsingham up the road has an excellent kids park, and you can walk by/on the river as long as its not in spate. Further up Weardale is Stanhope, which has some nice cafes and again the river is a popular dunking spot for kids.
I forgot to mention Hill End which is close to you in North Pennines terms - Its an old iron mine which has left its mark on the landscape with massive mounds of dirt and pits - all now reclaimed by nature my kids (and many others) love it there. Its free and a good waste of an afternoon if the weather is good. The Ice Cream van does massive ice creams too. Search for Lower Bollihope Caravan Park its on the same site.
I’ve got a soft spot for the Langdon Beck Hotel, but I’ve no idea if it’s even still open!
It's still open.
If you like history or being outdoors there's plenty.
In Teesdale, Barney - The Bowes Museum, Eggleston Abbey (not in Eggleston) and the Castle. Eggleston Hall (which is in Eggleston) - gardens and cafe. Tees Valley Railway Walk from Romaldkirk via Mickleton to Lonton (no parking). Bowlees for the Low Force / Gibson's Cave and a small cafe / visitor centre. Walks along the Tees from Low Force to High Force. It's getting mobbed around Bowlees at the moment. Chip shop in Middleton is really good. There is also a tourist information centre in the village. There are some nice walks around the village.
In Weardale - Low Barnes Nature Reserve and visitor centre at Whitton-le-Wear. Killhope Wheel museum / heritage centre.
South Tyne Valley - narrow gauge railway from Alston to Slaggyford.
Such lovely comprehensive ideas. Thanks all, really kind.
I’ll consider them all.
Hang on you are going to Copley? On Holiday?
Tow Law is nice...
Cockfield is a quaint English Village..
Do not listen to me... see above
