Durham Riverside Walk

Visit the Durham Riverside Walk

For something a little further afield, with plenty of room to let small legs run ahead, the Durham Riverside Walk is a genuine treat. It's a gentle three-mile loop that follows the River Wear right round Durham's peninsula, taking in the castle, the cathedral, several handsome old bridges, and more green space than most wild children will know what to do with. It's flat, largely traffic-free, and there's enough to spot along the way — weirs, rowers, the odd heron — to keep even the most easily distracted walker going for the full loop.

The lowdown:

• Where: Loops around Durham city centre — most people begin near Baths Bridge on Green Lane, or from the steps down by Elvet or Framwellgate Bridge

• When: Open at all times — it's a public footpath, not a ticketed attraction

• Cost: Free

• Parking: Plenty of pay-and-display options in the city, including the Sidegate car park near the Radisson Blu, and The Riverwalk car parks, which offer a handy £1.50 evening rate after 5pm

  
  

Why your wild child will love it: there's no need to hurry them along — they can dash ahead over the bridges, hunt out small curiosities on the way (look out for the Durham Cow, and a striking pyramid-shaped structure called Reveal), and you'll get postcard views of the cathedral without paying a penny for the privilege. Round things off with a stop at one of the riverside cafés, or a play in Wharton Park if there's any energy left.

Contact: Route maps and further detail at thisisdurham.com.