Hardcastle Crags is a beautiful wooded valley to explore, with 19th-century Gibson Mill at its heart.
It’s run by the National Trust and there are often fun events for the kids during school holidays.
There are several marked trails (you can pick up a map in the car parks or have a look online here, including a couple of easy ones and one that’s suitable for prams (a mile each way).
It’s lots of fun to walk by the water, try the stepping stones and have a paddle before cooling off with an ice cream or enjoying a slice of cake in the café. Or you could look for minibeasts, pond dip, play hide and seek in the woods or admire the tumbling water falls and lovely walks.
You can explore on your own, or take a guided tour. Depending on the season, there are bluebells to enjoy and activities such as creating mini rafts to sail on the pond and cooking on campfires.
Inside Gibson Mill you can learn how a cotton mill became a popular entertainment venue before being transformed into a visitor centre and café.