Old Cassop

Old Cassop itself has no hotels, reflecting its status as a tiny, largely residential conservation hamlet reached by a single-track lane off the A181. Visitors wanting a hotel base should look to Durham City, roughly five miles north-west, which has an excellent range of accommodation from national chains to independent boutique hotels, many within walking distance of Durham Cathedral and the River Wear. Durham's central location on the East Coast Main Line also makes it a convenient hub for exploring the wider county, including the East Durham limestone plateau, the Durham Heritage Coast and former colliery villages like Coxhoe and Kelloe that sit close to Old Cassop. For something quieter than a city-centre stay, smaller towns such as Sedgefield and Bishop Auckland, both within a 20-30 minute drive, have country inns and guesthouses that suit visitors keen to explore rural County Durham at a slower pace. Whichever base you choose, Old Cassop's appeal lies in a short, deliberate visit on foot, taking in its conservation area and the adjoining Cassop Vale nature reserve, rather than an extended stay, so most people treat it as a day trip from Durham or a stop on a longer tour of the county's historic villages and coastline.

Old Cassop itself is a place to wander quietly rather than tick off sights, but it sits within easy reach of Durham's historic core and the wider East Durham countryside.

• Durham City and Durham Cathedral — the UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and castle, along with the cobbled streets of the peninsula, are around five miles north-west and make an easy half-day trip.
• Cassop Vale Nature Reserve — a Durham Wildlife Trust reserve on the disused railway line below the village, known for its limestone grassland flora and butterflies in summer.
• Hawthorn Dene and the Durham Heritage Coast — a short drive east brings you to the dramatic denes and cliffs of the Durham coastline, a legacy of restoration after the region's mining and quarrying past.
• Old Cassop Conservation Area walk — the hamlet's own earthworks and traditional stone buildings, set out along the original medieval street plan, reward a slow walk with a look at the Durham County Council conservation area appraisal beforehand.
• Coxhoe and Kelloe — neighbouring former colliery villages that tell the industrial-era story Old Cassop itself largely escaped, worth a contrasting visit.

There are no pubs, cafes or shops in Old Cassop itself. The neighbouring villages of Cassop, Quarrington and Coxhoe have local pubs, and Durham City offers a full range of restaurants, cafes and traditional pubs, making it the natural base for eating out while exploring this quiet corner of County Durham.

County Durham's countryside around Old Cassop is a mix of limestone plateau, disused railway cuttings and gently rolling farmland, offering pleasant if modest camping and glamping opportunities within a short drive of the hamlet. As with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's explicit permission is illegal, so pitching up in Cassop Vale or the surrounding fields is not an option; visitors should instead use one of the licensed campsites and glamping sites dotted around County Durham, many set within farms or on the edges of villages like Sedgefield, Bishop Auckland and further into the Durham Dales. The best season for camping here runs from late spring to early autumn, when the exposed, elevated terrain around Cassop Vale is driest and evenings are long enough to enjoy the quiet, dark-sky setting away from Durham City's lights. Winter camping is possible at more sheltered, serviced sites further from the plateau, but the open, breezy character of the land immediately around Old Cassop makes it a fair-weather destination rather than a year-round one. For those who prefer a warmer, more comfortable alternative to canvas, glamping pods, shepherd's huts and yurts have become increasingly common across County Durham's farms and smallholdings, giving easy access to the same limestone grassland, former railway paths and heritage coastline without needing your own kit. Combining a stay at one of these nearby sites with a short walk through the Old Cassop conservation area and Cassop Vale nature reserve makes for a rewarding, low-key County Durham break, particularly for anyone also planning to visit Durham City's cathedral and castle a few miles away.