Things To Do

Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Weardale is full of interest and steeped in history. It is a magnificent area for walking, cycling, fishing, golfing and more. Experience the unspoilt scenery and panoramic hill top views, walking on public footpaths by streams along tracks and quiet country lanes and cycling on local byways and the nearby Coast to Coast route which enables you to appreciate the vast untamed beauty of the area. You can fish in the River Wear or in local reservoirs. Bird and wildlife watching is abundant all around. 

Westgate itself is the ideal location offering a great selection of country lane, hillside and riverside walks including the renowned Slit Wood described as a "secret paradise" with its quaint waterfalls which draw visitors in from far and wide.

Within the village Westgate you can find the Hare & Hounds pub known for its fantastic Sunday roast and great locally brewed beers. There is a play park and multi sports area to suit families. Also just over a mile away and within easy walking distance is St Johns Chapel which offers a Coop, Cafe, post office, two pubs and a local Village Hall.

Also less than ten minute drive south you will find the largest village in the dale, Stanhope. This lovely pretty village offers a range of local shops and services including a Grocery, Bakery, Butchers, Chemists, Hairdressers, Newsagents/Off-Licence, Hardware Store, Takeaways, Boutique Art and Craft Galleries, Tourist Information, Tea Shops and Cafes. There is also a Bank (ATM machines) and Post Office, Weekly Markets. All of which we encourage our customers to support.  

The villages of weardale are linked by the local buses, taxis and the railway. 

The North Pennines has much to offer in its unique beauty, history and easy accessibility to surrounding places of interest. The park is a central hub for exploring and days out.

Further afield but within easy reach is Durham City with its Cathedral and Castle. Newcastle with its Quayside, famous bridges, excellent shopping and world renowned Metrocentre. The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Hadrian's Wall, Beamish Open Air Museum and the market towns of Hexham, Barnard Castle, Penrith and Alston (the highest market town in England).