A weekend in County Durham: an accessible itinerary

This is a weekend built on short hops. Every attraction and every hotel on this itinerary states disabled access, so you can plan around the day rather than around the doorway. Day one pairs Newham Grange Leisure Farm with the Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre, just 3.6 miles apart. Day two heads to the coast for Arbeia Roman Fort Museum and Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, a mere 0.6 miles between the two — morning and afternoon on the same stretch of South Shields.

For beds, Crowne Plaza Newcastle sits 0.1 miles from Newcastle station, handy if you're arriving by rail; the Premier Inn at Bishop Auckland (1.4 miles from the station, with WiFi) is closest to County Durham's nearest station. The Little Haven in South Shields is 0.3 miles from Littlehaven Beach, though the Environment Agency rates its bathing water Poor. Do ring ahead about parking, accessible toilets and lifts — stated access varies in the detail.