The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a 12th-century parish church; south of Bishop Middleham lies Bishop's Fen, a 20-hectare nature reserve. Together with Castle Lake and the named paths, these offer different options for a trip: church architecture, landscape and walking. When choosing the area for a break, you can first decide whether history or time outdoors should take centre stage.

Church Architecture and Local History

The Church of St Michael and All Angels has aisles and a north porch; the chancel was extended in the 13th century. The chronology illustrates the development of the building: the parish church dates from the 12th century, and the chancel extension from the 13th century. Inside, there is also a medieval font made of Frosterley marble, with a base. This brings into focus not only the parts of the building, but also the material and age of a single furnishing. Visitors interested in ecclesiastical architecture will find several points of interest here, from the church’s design to the font.

Cades Road adds a transport route to the area’s history: the road is associated with Roman roads and runs through the centre of the parish of Bishop Middleham. This offers a different perspective on local history from the architectural history of the parish church and can broaden the cultural focus of a trip.

Landscape, Park and Paths

Bishop's Fen lies about 2 kilometres south of Bishop Middleham, in the floodplain of the River Skerne. The 20-hectare site is used for agriculture and is also a nature reserve. Castle Lake, also south of Bishop Middleham, is a 13-hectare lake. The area figures allow for a brief comparison: Bishop's Fen is larger than Castle Lake. The landscapes described also differ: Bishop's Fen combines agricultural use and nature conservation in a river floodplain, while Castle Lake is a lake.

Bishop Middleham Park offers a historical perspective. In 1649, the deer park was recorded as covering 70 acres. Today, a public footpath leads from the village to the park. This site thus brings together a specific access route and a dated figure for the former extent of the deer park.

Bishop's Fen can be reached from Bishop Middleham via a public footpath from Foumarts Lane. As path conditions can change, check them before setting out. The Fishburn & Bishop Middleham Circular Walk is a Discover-Brightwater circular walk and is suitable for children and families; here too, you should check path conditions before setting off. This information can help you decide whether to focus your plans on a particular landscape site or the named circular walk.

Practical Travel Information

Bishop Middleham Village Shop combines a newsagent, an off-licence, a traditional sweet shop, a grocery store and a post office. If you plan to use the shop for supplies, check that it is open before you arrive.

Then look for accommodation based on what you would like to do during your break.

Discover more destinations: Woodland, Crook, Chester-Le-Street, West Auckland, Hunwick, Durham, High Etherley, Seaham.

Back to the main travel overview: Durham.