Loved by Locals: Worth the Wait

On the 1st April 2020 Gemma Peacock from Shotton Colliery shared her poem – ‘The Rainbow Children’ for the first time on social media. The poem went on to become a social media sensation and went viral overnight! 

Inspired by a walk in Durham's countryside, Gemma wrote the poem to reassure her young children at the beginning of the first Coronavirus lockdown, but it went on to give hope to thousands of people across the world throughout the pandemic. 

We believe Gemma's heartfelt words perfectly sum up why Durham is #worththewait, and that’s why we included the poem (and Gemma and her family) in one of our videos promoting the county.  

To celebrate the anniversary of this amazing poem, we are looking ahead to brighter days and have asked Gemma to share with us her favourite places to visit across the county. 

Below are all the amazing places that Gemma and her family love exploring, all of which you can fall in love with on a future visit to Durham. 

 

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

Beamish Museum is an award-winning open-air museum, which tells the story of life in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s, through an amazing collection of artefacts and exhibitions, including real life-size buildings and historic vehicles.  

Visitors will once again be able to enjoy exploring the museum's outdoor spaces and tuck into tasty take-away food & drink, when the grounds of the museum re-open from 12 April 2021. All visitors must pre-book an entry timeslot before they visit.  

Countryside Parks 

Across the county you’ll find many beautiful parks and gardens to explore. Gemma and her family love visiting Hardwick Countryside Park in Sedgefield and Wharton Park in Durham City. 

At Hardwick Park you can take your pick from walking trails around the park and surrounding woodland, go wildlife watching or simply pick a spot to sit back, relax and enjoy a tasty picnic. Wharton Park is a must-visit spot for the stunning views you can enjoy of historic Durham City and Durham Cathedral below. 

Durham City

Gemma and her family love visiting Durham City, and one of the things they enjoy doing most during their visit is taking in the views of the historic city and World Heritage Site on the riverside walk. 

Durham Heritage Coast 

One of Gemma’s favourite spots to explore on the Durham Heritage Coast is Castle Eden Dene, where you can follow woodland trails through the ancient dene, which covers over covers 500 acres.

Castle Eden Dene is just one of the many beautiful places you can explore all along the 11 mile coastal footpath. 

Finchale Pirory 

On the banks of the River Wear, on the outskirts of Durham City you’ll find the tranquil setting of the ruins of Finchale Priory. Founded in 1196, the once grand priory was an outpost of Durham Cathedral and was used as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham. 

It’s the perfect spot for a refreshing riverside walk or peaceful picnic.  

Discover more reasons why Durham is worth the wait >>