HIGH FORCE, TEESDALE, COUNTY DURHAM

The thundering falls of High Force in Teesdale. From high on the North Pennines, the River Tees rushes and gushes until it reaches a precipitous rock ledge, where it plunges 70 feet into the raging pool below. There are steps down onto the rocks in front of the falls, from where you'll be able to get some amazing photos, and there are also steps up to a viewing area at the top of the falls – though, fairly sensibly, there's no longer any access on to the rocks there. The falls are part of Lord Barnard's Raby Estate, and in summer a shop sells gifts, snacks and ice cream. But at any time of the year you can call into the High Force Hotel by the car park for a handpulled pint and a cheap homemade lunch. If you're up for more of a hike, you can also walk up to the falls from Bowlees Visitor Centre.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL, COUNTY DURHAM

County Durham is a county in north-east England. Its county town is Durham. It is a county of contrasts: the remote and sparsely populated dales and moors of the Pennines characterise the interior, while nearer the coast the county is highly urbanised, and was once dominated by the coal mining industry.

The form of the county name is unique in England. Many counties are named after their principal town, and the expected form here would be Durhamshire. The reason it is called County Durham instead is that the Bishops of Durham historically exercised power in regions outside the county as well, so the inner part was named County Durham as opposed to the rest of the estate of Durham. The form County X is standard for Irish counties, with no such significance or relationship.