A companion who shares their interests, in Durham

Somewhere to go

Eighteenth century parkland loop at Hardwick Park

Sedgefield

A free council-run country park with a lake, woodland and restored eighteenth century garden buildings on the edge of Sedgefield. A carer can drive in, park close by and set a short there-and-back route with a stop at the visitor centre cafe.

Getting around: Durham County Council's visitor information says the paths allow easy access to the park at all times.

Source: durham.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

River Wear riverside paths below the cathedral

Riverside Walk, Durham

Wooded paths follow the River Wear in a loop around the cathedral peninsula, joined easily from the bridges in the city centre. A carer can pick up the step-free version of the route and plan bench stops rather than attempting the stepped sections.

Getting around: Durham Pointers publish a Riverside walks without steps leaflet covering step-free routes for wheelchairs and scooters, with resting points marked.

Source: durhampointers.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

In the calendar

Seaham Food Festival on the seafront

Seaham

A free two day council-run festival of food stalls, cookery demonstrations and live entertainment beside the sea at Seaham. A carer can go early when it is quieter, find seating for the demonstrations and carry purchases home to cook together.

Source: durham.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Local food

Period bread and cakes from the Edwardian baker's shop

Beamish Museum, Stanley

At Beamish, Joseph Herron's baker and confectioner turns out bread, cakes and biscuits by traditional methods, researched from old commercial recipes. A carer can bring someone to watch the bakers at work, then buy a loaf or biscuits to try recreating at home.

Source: bakeryinfo.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Glasshouses and woodland planting at the Botanic Garden

Durham University Botanic Garden, Durham

A 25 acre garden with alpine and winter areas, a bamboo grove and tropical glasshouses, set in mature woodland on the south side of Durham. A carer can keep to the upper garden and glasshouses, where the going is easiest, and use the benches placed around the grounds.

Getting around: The university says the visitor centre, top area of the garden and the glasshouses are easily accessible by wheelchair, while paths further down are steep in places.

Source: durham.ac.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Walled garden and terrace at Raby Castle

Staindrop

A long established castle estate with a restored walled garden, glasshouses and deer park in south west Durham. A carer could book a quieter weekday visit, take the garden at a slow pace and finish in the estate cafe.

Source: thisisdurham.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

Local tradition

Northumbrian rapper sword dancing from the pit villages

Rapper sword dancing, performed at speed by five dancers linked by flexible two-handled swords, began with miners in the pit villages of County Durham and Northumberland and is still danced by revival teams. A carer can look out for displays at local folk events and festivals, which are short and easy to watch from a seat.

Source: rapper.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

In the calendar

Afternoon tea dance with a live big band

Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Bishop Auckland

As part of Durham Brass Festival, a traditional afternoon tea dance is held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall with live music from a big band. A carer can book seats in advance so dancing is optional and listening over tea is enough of a reason to go.

Source: visitcountydurham.org. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Pitmen painters at the Mining Art Gallery

Bishop Auckland

A gallery in a converted bank devoted to art made by and about coal miners, including early realistic depictions of pit life. A carer can use the visit as a prompt for conversation and for sketching afterwards over a cup of tea.

Source: aucklandproject.org. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Paintings and decorative arts at the Bowes Museum

Barnard Castle

A purpose-built museum in Teesdale holding European paintings, furniture, ceramics and the Silver Swan automaton. A carer can plan one or two rooms rather than the whole building and break the visit with the ground floor cafe.

Getting around: A wheelchair user's review reports easy access to the displays with a lift to all floors and accessible toilets on two levels.

Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.