National Trust: Hardcastle Crags

Hardcastle Crags is just great! You park at the entrance (admittedly the parking charges are a little steep) and then you can spend as long as you like in the Crags. For the less active there are steady walks along fully marked paths, or you can leave the paths and wander along the hillsides. The stream in the bottom is great for kids to paddle in, and there is a small café where you can buy reasonably-​priced refreshments. It is open all year round and is a lovely place to visit in each different season.

Lovely in the summer for an amble through the trees,
Lovely in the winter with the snow up to your knees.
All you need is sturdy shoes to jump from rock to log,
I’ve often found, to enjoy it lots, it’s best to bring a dog.
Why not bring some change along if you’re feeling like a treat,
Often there’s an icecream van, with sticky things to eat.
The car park’s free but can get full, especially if it’s warm,
Why not walk down from the station, it won’t take you long at all.
The rocks and river make it such a fantastic place to come,
The café in the middle will sell you hot soup and a bun.
Dust off those boots and woolly hats and you’ll have a wonderful day,
Then I’ll meet you in the pub for a pint, especially if you’ll pay!