Durham, the cathedral, the castle and the river

When friends come to stay and want to see something of County Durham, take them to Durham. It is about half an hour inland, and it is one of the most beautiful small cities in the country.

The cathedral and the castle

Durham Cathedral sits on a rocky peninsula high above the River Wear, with the castle beside it, and together they make a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral is one of the great Norman buildings of Europe, more than 900 years old, and it is the resting place of St Cuthbert. Even if old churches are not usually your thing, it is worth an hour of anyone’s time. The castle is now part of Durham University, and you can see inside on a guided tour.

The river

The Wear wraps almost all the way round the old city, and the paths along its wooded banks are one of the best walks in the county. You can follow them right round the peninsula, cross the old bridges, and look up at the cathedral towers through the trees. In summer you can hire a rowing boat and see it all from the water.

Shops and somewhere to eat

The streets that climb up from the market place to the cathedral are full of independent shops, cafes and pubs, so it is easy to make a whole day of it. Durham station is on the main east coast line, which makes the city a good meeting point for family coming up from further south.

Owning a home nearby

A World Heritage city half an hour one way, and the beach a short walk the other. Denemouth Park is a family run, owners only park at Blackhall Rocks, with homes for sale on the Durham coast, every price shown up front. Come and see how much is on the doorstep.