Things to do in county durham

The Black Horse Beamish Estate is the perfect gateway in County Durham. Ideal for exploring Durham, Northumberland, Newcastle or the Dales. Whether you’re looking for historic villages and market towns, heritage coastline and castles, hills an

A historic street scene with a tram filled with passengers, pedestrians walking along the cobblestone street, and buildings lining the street, including a chocolate shop and a cycle works shop.

Beamish museum

Beamish Museum is a 2 minute drive from the Black Horse Beamish and provides the perfect day for the whole family. Visit the town, colliery, village, working farm, pockerley manor and 1825 railway, recreating life in the North East in the early 1800's and 1900's.

Aerial view of a winding river running through lush green forests and farmland with rolling hills in the background.

beamish lakes

Approximately half a mile from The Black Horse - opposite the South Causey Inn and Equestrian Centre lies Beamish Lakes. The all trout fishing lake is in a perfect rural countryside setting clear rainwater fed lives under 10 feet deep both for fly and worm fishing.

A vintage green steam train arriving at Andrews House station with smoke and steam billowing from the engine, and a group of people waiting on the platform.

tanfield railway

A 15 minute walk up the back road and you will find the world's oldest working railway and engine shed. The surviving 1725 Sunniside to Causey section is still running, the oldest part was 1647 with over 300 years of coal traffic. A great day out for families and history fans alike, or anyone with an interest in our proud railway heritage.

A historic cathedral and castle situated on a hill overlooking a town with houses and green trees, under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Durham City

Durham is a city in northeast England, south of Newcastle upon Tyne. The River Wear loops around the Romanesque Durham Cathedral and Norman Durham Castle. North of the castle, 13th-century, medieval Crook Hall is home to gardens and a maze. South of the river, Durham University offers a Botanic Garden with woodland and tropical plants, Also home to shops, coffee shops, bars and more.

A stone arch bridge spanning a lush, autumnal forest with trees displaying fall foliage and a partly cloudy sky.

causey arch and picnic area

The world’s oldest surviving railway bridge built in 1725 stands over a rocky gorge, woodland walks and access to Tanfield railway.