Tourist Attractions in Durham
There are lots of things to be done and seen in Durham. These include its tourist attractions and places to be visited during the leisure time. Let some light be thrown on some of these attractions located in towns given below.
Bishop Aukland
Bishop Aukland is a home to Auckland Castle, ‘Binchester Roman Fort’, Railway Village of Shildon, ‘Low Barns Nature Reserve and Visitor Center’, ‘Ruff and Tumble Adventure World’, ‘Gaunless Valley Visitor Center’, Raby Castle, ‘Piercebridge Roman Bridge (EH)’, Hamsterley Forest, ‘Hardwick Hall Country park’, ‘Durham University Oriental Museum’, University of Durham Botanical Garden’, ‘Popular Tree garden Center’, ‘The Exotic Animal Welfare Trust’, ‘Houghhall College’, ‘Tees Cottage Pumping Station’, ‘Durham Castle’, ‘Phoenix Hot Glass Studio’, Arts Center, and many more.
Darlington
The tourist attractions in ‘Darlington’ include Train Sculpture, ‘paddock farm Water Gardens’, ‘Butterfly World Ltd.’, ‘Preston Hall Museum’, ‘Green Dragon Museum’, Aske hall’, ‘Kiplin Hall’, ‘Teesside White Water Course’, ‘Georgian Theatre Royal and Museum’ to name a few.
Hartepool
Hartepool attractions include HMS Trincomalee, ‘Ward Jackson Park’, ‘Hartepool Historic Quay’, ‘The Designer Room’, ‘Burn Valley Gardens’, ‘Forum Theatre’, ‘Billingham art Gallery’, ‘Cleveland Golf Club’, ‘Transporter Bridge and Visitor Center’, ‘Peterlee Parachute Center’, ‘RNLI Zetland Lifeboat Museum’, ‘Kirkleatham Owl Center’, Seatle Holme, Middlesbrough Theatre, and lots of other explorations.
Majority of these attractions are self-explanatory. However, some of them need certain background to be known. They include
Binchester Roman Fort
The origin of Binchester Fort goes to first century AD. The purpose behind its construction was protection of the point of crossing of Dere Street and River Wear. The construction involved around 1000 soldiers. The families of soldiers lived in the vicinity of the fort. It developed into a tiny town. Partial excavation took place in 1870. The latter part got excavated in 1930. The major excavation took place from 1976 to 1981 wherein the commandant’s bath and house were examined. They were made open for the public then. As of now, only the buildings excavated and earthwork carried out thereupon are seen.
Hamsterley Forest
Hamsterley Forest holds the status of being the largest forest in County Durham. It covers an area of around 2000 hectares. It is located amidst the sharp valley of Bedburn and Ayhope becks. The distinct topography has given rise to an awfully diverse and rich collection of habitat. The natural vegetation here includes conifers, Scots pine as old as 70 years, trees planted by Surtees family, oak woodland, and many more.
Hamsterley falls in the category of working forests, where timber of around 20000 tonnes is produced. The sensitivity of the management has been proven from the fact that timber production has been combined with recreation and wildlife promotion. Two areas in Hamsterley, such as Low Redford Meadows and Frog Wood have been specially protected. They include collections of ferns and mosses like ‘alpine club moss’, and chickweed wintergreen.
Great-spotted and green woodpeckers have found their home in this forest. Other birds include fieldfare, redwing, dipper, treecreeper, nuthatch, along with summer migrants like pied flycatcher and wood warbler. Summers are full of sounds of woodcock and nightjar.