County Durham

County Durham sits in the North East of England, with the River Wear looping through its central city and cutting deep valleys across the county. The city of Durham occupies a peninsula formed by the river, where Durham Cathedral and Castle stand close together; the cathedral and castle are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The county extends into the Durham Dales — Weardale and upper Teesdale — where upland moors give way to narrow valleys and market towns such as Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle. Towns like Consett and Peterlee mark the former industrial belt inland from the dales.

The area has a long history of mining and rail transport, and that legacy remains in museums and preserved lines. Beamish Open Air Museum and the Weardale Railway recreate parts of 19th- and 20th-century life and industry. Agricultural land, upland grazing and pockets of woodland surround the settlements, while cultural projects such as the Bowes Museum and the Auckland Project shape local regeneration. Local roads and footpaths link villages, dales and the river corridor, offering routes that reflect the county’s settlement pattern and industrial past.