Consett is a small town that sits high on the edge of the Pennines in County Durham. Being 900 feet above sea level, it’s one of the highest towns in the UK, and there are spectacular views here, even from the streets.
The town is an important part of the British steel industry. Steel from Consett was used to create Blackpool Tower as well as some of the UK’s submarines. Today, the town continues to grow, and it’s enjoying a large amount of investment to redevelop and improve its infrastructure.
Consett has good road links, making it easy to get to Durham (25 minutes) and Newcastle (35 minutes). There isn’t a local train station, but there’s one nearby in Stocksfield, and national rail services can be picked up from Newcastle train station, opening up routes to London, Edinburgh and elsewhere. The nearest airport is Newcastle International Airport, and it’s just 20 minutes away.
Education is well provided for in Consett. There are plenty of local primary schools such as Consett Junior School, St Mary’s RC Primary School and Benfieldside Primary School. The local secondary school is Consett Academy, and it’s recently had £5.7 million invested into it to improve the school and create new buildings. There are other secondary schools nearby, such as St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form, and North Durham Academy.
Hermiston Retail Park provides has household brands including B&Q, Morrisons, Costa and Matalan. The town centre has even more choices including Argos and Home Bargains plus great independent shops too. Rendles House Furnishings has been open since the 1980s. There is investment going into the high street to transform it and attract many more independent stores and create a space for events like festivals, street markets, and performances.
There are some delicious places to grab a bite to eat in Consett. Try Sweethart Bistro, Bakery and Coffee shop for their fresh bakes and afternoon tea, or The Sarnie Salon for hot or cold food to takeaway. Knitsley Farm Shop and Granary Café is worth the short trip to try their delicious local produce from the butchers, deli, bakery and café. Sambuca is a popular local Italian restaurant, and The Old Courthouse Kitchen & Bar provides delicious food that’s been locally sourced.
The local hospital is two miles away at Shotley Bridge, and Consett Medical Centre has GP services.
Consett sits right on the edge of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so there’s plenty of beautiful landscape to explore and enjoy. Visit one of the Dark Sky Discovery Sites at night to see the spectacular starry skies free from light pollution. Derwent Reservoir is a lovely place to visit and there’s also the Beamish Museum, which is very popular. The historic city of Durham and its stunning cathedral is just a 20-minute drive away, making for a great day out.
