If you’re looking for a peaceful ‘away from it all’ holiday where you can re-charge your batteries amongst beautiful countryside, County Durham is for you; providing untouched rural landscapes and a rich historical backdrop.

Any cottage holiday in County Durham would not be complete without a visit to the historic city of Durham. The city is renowned as one of the finest historical and cultural cities in the UK, with its magnificent cathedral and castle world heritage site. Enjoy its medieval architecture, cobbled winding streets, unique shops, pubs and restaurants.

The Durham Dales forms The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area of open heather moorland, rivers and dales, wonderful wildlife and ancient stone villages; just perfect for days out walking and touring. Include a visit to High Force waterfall where you can combine a lovely woodland walk with the magnificent site of the waterfall where the River Tees falls over the falls in two stages, creating a wonderful natural, all-year round spectacle.

Head eastwards for days out at the Durham Coast, with a coastal path, quiet beaches and imposing headlands. A great way to unwind amongst nature as it was intended, with the wind in your hair and great uninterrupted view out across the North Sea.

For a the perfect family day out Beamish Museum fits the bill, where you can discover what the north east was like in times gone by. Set in 300 acres of countryside this is a working, living museum giving a real sense of what life was like all those years ago.

From riverside strolls to tackling parts of the Pennine Way and with quiet country roads to challenging off-road climbs, County Durham offers lots of opportunities to explore by foot or bike; suitable for both novices and experts alike!

Despite its rural character there’s plenty to keep visitors fully occupied during their stay, with a wealth of things to do and places to see in this enchanting corner of England.

Take a look at our selection of holiday cottages in County Durham.