An arty weekend in … Barnard Castle, County Durham

Follow in Turner’s footsteps and enjoy the architecture, museums and great outdoors in and around this jewel of the north

Barnard Castle, a well-preserved market town in Teesdale, County Durham, grew up around the 12th-century castle after which it is named – and was immortalised during the pandemic as the site of Dominic Cummings’ eye test. But its other claim to fame is the Bowes Museum, a magnificent French chateau-like edifice, built by John and Joséphine Bowes. The couple founded the museum to share their vast art collection with the people of Teesdale. Sadly, neither lived to see it open to the public in 1892, but their vision lives on.