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FREE maps and money-saving offers inside Things to see and do in Durham City, the Durham Dales, Vale of Durham and Durham Coast NEW FOR 2018 EXTRA SCENES 2000 YEARS OF HISTORY, MYTH AND LEGEND The UK’s ‘must-see’, spectacular live-action show. BOOK NOW: KYNREN.COM EVERY SUMMER | CO DURHAM 07515 AB Durham Pocket Guide 210x99.indd 1 09/01/2018 15:35 NEW FOR 2018 EXTRA SCENES Welcome to Durham, a county with breathtaking dales, a dramatic coastline, a vale steeped in history and a vibrant city at its heart Boasting one of the most stunning city skylines in Europe, Durham City captivates with its characterful streets and prominent peninsula crowned with 2000 YEARS OF HISTORY, MYTH AND LEGEND the towering sight of Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral, which together form part of a treasured UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning scenery of the Durham Dales and North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provide ample opportunity to get active in Durham’s great outdoors. Enjoy the dramatic High Force and Low Force waterfalls, traverse national walking trails, tackle woodland cycle paths in Hamsterley Forest and discover a heritage landscape at the Killhope lead mining museum. Or simply enjoy some peace and tranquility under Durham’s vast Dark Skies. The Durham Coast is home to a dramatic stretch of designated Heritage coastline. This stretch of wild and beautiful shoreline reclaimed from the heavy industry of coal mining boasts pretty coastal towns like Seaham, with its own five-star spa retreat, a family festival, and Dalton Park, the biggest outlet shopping centre in the region giving plenty of reasons to visit. The Vale of Durham has been shaped by the county’s rich social and industrial past. Step back in time at Beamish - The Living Museum of the North and discover the county’s pivotal role in the development of the railways at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon. Bishop Auckland is the setting for spectacular open-air show, Kynren - an epic tale of England, and 2018 sees the fruition of Auckland Castle’s exciting redevelopment. Durham shines a light on award-winning attractions, a host of captivating museums, castles and palatial stately homes which all tell the story of the county’s fascinating past. The unique character and charm of picturesque market towns and pretty villages including Bishop Auckland, Chester-le- Street, Barnard Castle and Stanhope are just waiting to be explored. For family fun, there are great days out to be had across the county, and a year- round programme of festivals, entertainment and events. There’s only one thing for it… stay a little longer! Supported by: The UK’s ‘must-see’, Scan me to visit: spectacular thisisdurham.com live-action show. BOOK NOW: KYNREN.COM EVERY SUMMER | CO DURHAM Visitor information: 03000 26 26 26 | thisisdurham.com 3 07515 AB Durham Pocket Guide 210x99.indd 1 09/01/2018 15:35 Contents and how to use this guide How to use this guide 4 Outdoors 6 Heritage 8 See & Do / Food & Drink Durham City 10-31 Vale of Durham 32-53 Durham Dales 54-65 How to use this guide This handy guide will help you make the most of your time in our amazing county. It is divided into easy-to-follow sections for attractions, activities and shops, events, visitor information and tours, transport and maps. This year’s guide is also the place to find somewhere to eat or drink, or to find out where to buy local produce. Look out for the Taste Durham mark, a sign of great food and service proudly displayed at eateries across the county. Inspire me We’ve included some articles on Durham its heritage and great outdoors to give you a little inspiration on what you might like to see or do during your visit. For more inspiration and itinerary ideas, visit: thisisdurham.com/inspire-me Special Offers Get value from your visit and take advantage of some great money-saving offers. Look out for special offers on adverts. For even more savings, visit: thisisdurham.com/offers Keep in touch Keep in touch to find out first about Durham news, events and special offers. Sign up to receive our free e-newsletter, visit: thisisdurham.com/newsletter /thisisdurham @thisisdurham #LoveDurham 4 This is Durham Pocket Guide 2018 Durham Coast 66-73 Further Afield 74-77 Maps County Map 42 City Centre Map 44 Events 78-79 Visitor Information 80-81 Key to symbols The following symbols are featured throughout the guide. We hope this will help you to choose the most suitable attractions for your visit to Durham Shop Accessible toilets Baby change facilities Wheelchair access all areas Tea room and/or coffee shop Facilities for visually impaired Restaurant Facilities for hearing impaired Picnic tables Welcome to Durham Car parking Visitor Attraction Quality No dogs (except guide dogs) Assurance Scheme Dogs welcome Fairtrade products available No admission charge Green Tourism Business Scheme Accessible parking Award - Gold, Silver, Bronze Taste Durham Accreditation AA Rosette Please ask us if you would like this document summarised in another language or format. [email protected] 03000 26 26 26 or for a pdf version visit: thisisdurham.com/publications © Visit County Durham. Published February 2018. All information correct at time of going to print. You are advised to check opening times and event dates before making plans. All photography in this publication is copyright and cannot be reproduced without permission. All images VCD unless specified. Front cover: Durham Cathedral, Beamish Museum, Raby Castle, Stargazing at Killhope, Cain Scrimgeour; Kynren, Peter Haygarth; Page 3 Durham Dales; Pages 4-5 Durham Coast; Pages 6-7 Durham Dales; Pages 8-9 © The Bowes Museum; Page 32 © The Auckland Project; Page 54 High Force; Page 66 Durham Coast; Page 64, NewcastleGateshead Quayside; Hadrian’s Wall; Cleveland Way; Angel of the North © Visit England/Visit County Durham; Pages 78-79 © Durham County Cricket Club SPECIAL OFFER TERMS AND CONDITIONS For further information about the deals offered within this guide, or to check terms and conditions please contact the venue direct. To redeem the offer present the advert at the venue. Vouchers are issued in good faith but the Promoter is not responsible for the operator refusing to accept the voucher. The offer details were correct as of February 2018 and Visit County Durham cannot accept any responsibility in respect of changes, errors or omissions which may have occurred. * Deal specific terms & conditions: Skydive Academy: £30 off per person - discount applies to list price, any scheduled date 10,000ft Tandem Skydive - may not be combined with any other discount or agency rate. Botanic Garden, Oriental Museum, Raby Castle: Child Goes Free - one child goes free, with a full paying adult. Visitor information: 03000 26 26 26 | thisisdurham.com 5 Outdoors Discover Durham’s Great Outdoors If you love stunning landscapes, enjoy exploring on bike or on foot, and you want to see the undiminished majesty of the night sky, Durham will leave you refreshed, revitalised and ready for your next adventure! Get active and discover Durham’s great outdoors – the perfect destination for walking, cycling and stargazing. Follow in the footsteps of BBC Countryfile presenter Anita Rani as she charts her own ‘Stiles, Steeds and Stars’ journey across the county’s stunning scenery and natural outdoors attractions. Head out into the Durham Dales where you can enjoy everything from a leisurely stroll to a challenging trek. A number of long-distance routes also take in the county, including the Pennine Way and C2C cycle trail. Enjoy the scenery and pretty villages en-route. Make your way to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, home to more nationally-recognised Dark Sky Discovery Sites than any other part of the UK. Recently designated a UNESCO Global 6 This is Durham Pocket Guide 2018 Geopark, discover more at the award-winning Bowlees Visitor Centre. And make sure to take time out to visit High Force, one of England’s largest waterfalls. Step out at the Durham Heritage Coast for a stroll that weaves its way through wild flowers and coastal villages, enjoying clifftop scenery along the way. While there, take a break at the lively seaside town of Seaham, with its cafes, shops, heritage centre, marina and beaches. From countryside, city to coast, get on your bike and explore the cycle paths, disused railway lines, quiet country lanes and off-road trails that criss-cross the county. Hamsterley Forest is a magnet for mountain bikers, or let the chain take the strain with the North Pennines Electric Bike Network. Durham is yours to explore, discover and stay a little longer. To find out more about Durham’s great outdoors and access more than 120 walking and cycling routes, visit: thisisdurham.com/outdoors Visitor information: 03000 26 26 26 | thisisdurham.com 7 This is history Lighting up the past Durham’s unique history blends a mix of iconic buildings, social and industrial heritage, internationally renowned collections and world- class events all waiting to be explored. Durham’s historic UNESCO inscribed cityscape, with the cathedral, castle and architecturally striking university buildings is one of Europe’s most impressive city panoramas. Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral, both of which form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand proud above the city below. The cathedral’s fascinating Open Treasures exhibit opens the doors to previously hidden spaces of its Romanesque architecture, shedding light on artefacts from the cathedral’s collection. Originally built in the 11th Century by William the Conqueror Durham Castle is now a college of Durham University.