County Durham

River Valleys, Moorland Landscapes, Historic Routes, and Heritage Landscapes

From the uplands of the North Pennines to the river valleys, woodlands, and historic settlements of the east, County Durham contains a network of routes, landscapes, and places shaped by geology, industry, and centuries of movement through northern England. Trails such as the Pennine Way and Weardale Way reveal many of these environments, while landscapes including the North Pennines National Landscape, Teesdale, and Weardale showcase some of the county's most distinctive natural settings.

Routes pass through moorland, river valleys, woodland, farmland, historic market towns, and former industrial landscapes, linking protected landscapes, heritage sites, and some of north-east England's most recognisable places. Together, these routes and landscapes reveal the character of County Durham while providing opportunities to explore at a slower pace through self-guided travel and independent exploration.