Jacob's Lodge - Fun Days Out

Raby Castle is a Grade I listed medieval castle near Staindrop in County Durham, built by the Nevilles between about 1367 and 1390. It has nine towers, a Neville Gateway with grooves still visible from its portcullises, and a large art collection including works by old masters and portraits. It remains a private family home, and the grounds include 200 acres of deer park.

The 18th-century walled gardens are a big draw in their own right. Designer Luciano Giubbilei and Lady Barnard remodelled them, and they came second in the 2025 European Garden Awards. You'll find historic yew hedges, a fig tree brought here in 1786, mazes, a rill, a cut flower garden and a grass amphitheatre with views of the castle. History fans and garden lovers will enjoy both the castle and the grounds.

Tip: Pre-booking tickets online is recommended to get the best price.

The Bowes Museum is an art gallery in Barnard Castle, County Durham, built in the style of a French château and set in landscaped parkland overlooking Teesdale countryside. It was purpose-built to house the collection of John Bowes and his wife Joséphine, and opened in 1892.

Inside you'll find paintings by artists including El Greco, Goya, Canaletto and Van Dyck, alongside decorative art such as porcelain, tapestries, clocks and costumes, plus galleries for fashion and textiles. The star attraction is the Silver Swan, an 18th-century automaton that preens, looks round and appears to catch and swallow a fish. Temporary exhibitions change through the year, and there are family activities, a park and gardens to explore, and Café Bowes for a break, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

Tip: Check the museum's website for the current Silver Swan showing times before you go, as they differ on bank holidays and school holidays.

Barnard Castle is a ruined medieval castle on the edge of the County Durham town that shares its name. A stone fortress was begun here in the 12th century by the Balliol family, and the mighty round tower still stands over the gorge. Later owners included Richard of Gloucester, who went on to become Richard III.

It is a big site with a huge outer ward and an innermost stronghold, so there is plenty of room to explore and play. Look for Richard's white boar emblem carved above a window in the great chamber, then enjoy the view from that window of the winding, tree-lined river below. You can also see the 14th-century Great Hall and the remains of the chapel in the outer ward. English Heritage looks after the castle.

Tip: Head first for the great chamber window to find Richard's carved white boar and the view of the river.

Locomotion is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, part of the Science Museum Group. It sits beside the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway, and houses locomotives from the National Collection, including Sans Pareil and the unique APT-E and Deltic units.

A 1 km demonstration line runs through the site, with stops at historic buildings such as Timothy Hackworth's house, the goods shed and the coal drops. The trail ends at the Collection Building, where a conservation workshop has a viewing gallery. There's a café, a shop, a children's playground and a picnic area outside the Collection Building. Train fans will be in their element, and it suits families looking for a relaxed day out.

Tip: Pets aren't admitted, though working assistance dogs are welcome. Check the website for event days before you go.

Hall Hill Farm is an award-winning farm attraction near Tow Law in County Durham. It has been open to the public since 1981 and is still a working farm, run by the family who have farmed here since 1925. The land covers 290 hectares of grassland, woodland and crops, and the farm is home to over a thousand sheep.

Visitors can meet llamas, wallabies, Highland cattle, pigs, donkeys, ponies, chicks, lambs and rabbits, and there are friendly rabbits to handle. Admission includes a tractor and trailer ride. You can also play wonky donkey crazy golf and watch puppet shows, with a barrel train and mini jeeps as extras. The farm also takes school and group visits, and offers birthday parties and an Adopt an Animal scheme.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online, and the farm can be phoned on 01388 731333 for help with pre-booking.

Brough Castle is a ruined English Heritage castle on a ridge overlooking the Stainmore Pass, built within the walls of an old Roman fort. Its towering keep dates from about 1200, and the site was a frequent target of Scots raids. The Clifford family later added more comfortable living quarters, which were accidentally burnt after a great Christmas party in 1521. Lady Anne Clifford restored the castle in the 17th century, and traces of her work can still be seen.

You can wander the ruins and take in the keep and the later additions. Nearby, St Michael's Parish Church in Church Brough has an exhibition about the region, and an ice cream parlour and tearoom sits right next to the castle. Brougham Castle, also linked to Lady Anne Clifford, is about half an hour's drive away, so the two make a natural pairing. Entry is free.

Tip: Parking is limited in the village, so don't use Brough Castle Farm. Farm livestock may be present and the ground is uneven, especially the gatehouse cobbles.

Auckland Castle, also called Auckland Palace, was the home of the Prince Bishops of Durham for centuries. It is a Grade I listed building above the River Wear, and the site's story spans almost 1,000 years. Restored rooms each take you to a different moment in time, from the Throne Room to the Bishop's Study and the Long Dining Room.

Highlights include St Peter's Chapel, one of the largest private chapels in Europe, and the bishops' private apartments. The Long Dining Room is home to Zurbarán's Jacob and his Twelve Sons, though some of the paintings may be off display during conservation work. The Faith Museum covers 6,000 years of history, and the landscaped gardens surround the palace. The Bishop's Kitchen, a refurbished Tudor kitchen with a courtyard garden, is the place for a cafe stop.

Tip: Check opening days and times on the Auckland Project website before you set off, as the palace is not open every day.

High Force is a waterfall on the River Tees, near Middleton-in-Teesdale in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The whole river plunges 70 feet over a cliff edge in two stages. After heavy rain the river also flows over the usually dry right-hand channel, making two falls. In harsh winters the falls have been known to freeze into cathedral-like ice formations.

The falls sit where the Tees crosses the Whin Sill, the hard igneous rock also seen at Hadrian's Wall. As the rock wears away, the waterfall slowly moves upstream, leaving a narrow, deep gorge in front of it. You can see it from either bank. The northern bank is reached by a private footpath on the Raby estate, for which a fee is charged. The southern bank is free, via the Pennine Way footpath across the Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve. It suits walkers, and anyone who likes a good waterfall after rain.

Tip: The southern bank is free via the Pennine Way; the northern bank is a private Raby estate path with a fee. Visit after heavy rain to see the extra side channel flowing.