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The picturesque market town of Barnard Castle was today featured in The Guardian's top 10 small UK towns, the latest list being compiled from readers' comments and recommendations. So we thought we'd take the opportunity to tell you a little more about "Barny" and four more of Durham's market towns.
It seems sensible to start with Barnard Castle, locally known as "Barny".
One Guardian reader described it as "an absolutely lovely town on the River Tees with excellent food places and independent shops”. And the Guardian went on to say... "the town is dominated by the ruined Norman castle which gave it its name, but culturally the jewel in the crown has to be The Bowes Museum , a French-style chateau which houses an extraordinary collection of fine and decorative art, including works by El Greco, Goya and Canaletto. When you’ve finished exploring its many treasures, take a walk along the Tees and out into the beautiful Teesdale countryside, which inspired Walter Scott’s epic poem Rokeby.
We couldn't have put it better ourselves, but you can find out more about the town here, or take a look at the following list of accommodation in Barnard Castle.
Don't miss
- Barnard Castle (the castle)
- The Bowes Museum
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Staying in the Durham Dales, around 20 miles north of Barnard Castle you'll find the green and tranquil market town of Stanhope in Weardale.
Right in the heart of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Stanhope makes a great base for a walking holiday, with routes revealing breathtaking countryside views.
Read about Paul Steele's recent hiking visit to the town here.
Don't miss
Known as the gateway to Weardale, Bishop Auckland is a bustling market town that stands high above a meander in the River Wear with commanding views of the surrounding countryside.
The town is home to Auckland Castle, which was the Palace of Durham's Prince Bishops for more than 900 years. (The castle is currently closed for major restoration work, but you can still visit St Peter's Chapel on weekends, and regular events are also still taking place).
The county's biggest Food Festival takes place in Bishop Auckland every April too, and in 2016 the town burst into life with the first season of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England. The £34m night-time spectacular returns in 2017 after wowing more than 100,000 visitors across 15 action-packed shows during season one.
Don't miss:
- Kynren - An Epic Tale of England
- Bishop Auckland Food Festival (Every April, but dates to be confirmed)
Chester-le-Street is the closest market town to Durham City, just 10 miles away. It is also very close to Durham's most-popular visitor attraction, Beamish Museum.
The town is the home to the Emirates Riverside Cricket Ground which hosts more than 50 days of domestic cricket from April - September as well as international fixtures and big name concerts, with Elton John, Sir Tom Jones and Jessie J all performing at the venue in recent years. England take on the West Indies here next September.
Chester-le-Street is also proud of its Christian heritage; the town's fascinating past means there are lots of things for history lovers to see and do when visitng. The town's fascinating past means there are lots of things for history lovers to see and do when visitng the town.
There's even a heritage trail where pavement markers will direct you around several historical locations, or you could set off on 'Cuddy's Corse' - a 7.5 mile walking route from St Mary and St Cuthbert's church to Durham City.
There are plenty of opportunities for some family fun too, from local nature reserves and country parks, to the town's Riverside Park, with its ornamental gardens, a popular play area and paddling pool, as well as the new splash pad skate park and play area.
Don't miss
Seaham is a harbour town on Durham's Heritage Coast.
Admire the dramatic cliff top views, seek out one of England's oldest churches, visit the county's only marina or simply relax at the beach in Seaham!
Seaham is also an ideal place to start or end a walk along the coastal footpath (read what Paul Steele got up to during his walk along the coast)
Don't miss the perfect photo opportunity with "Tommy" the WWI statue, and visit the heritage and lifeboat centre where the George Elmy is on permanent display. and you'll be spoilt for choice when its time to refuel with a wide selection of bars, cafés and restaurants along a busy sea front.
A sense of history is never far away, one of the most outstanding features in Seaham is St. Mary the Virgin Church, recognised as one of the 20 oldest surviving churches in the whole country.
Don't miss
- Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Centre (just outside of Seaham)
- St Mary's Church
- Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa
Find out even more about Durham's market towns here.
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