Walking Locations
Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve.
Castle Eden and its adjoining dene is one of the most interesting and picturesque parts of Durham. A Site of Special Scientific Interest, it is home to an extraordinary variety of birds, more than 450 species of plants, and some of our favourite mammals, such as roe deer and fox.
At 3.5 miles (5.6km) long it covers 221 hectares of woodland and lowland grassland and is the largest of a series of valleys which run down to the coast between Sunderland and Hartlepool, reaching the sea at Denemouth.
Address:
Oakerside Dene Lodge
Stanhope Chase
Peterlee
County Durham
SR8 1NJ
Opening times:
1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
open all year sunrise to sunset. Offices are open 8am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Nose's Point Local Nature Reserve Walk
Nose's Point is a double Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geology and ecology. Owned and managed by Durham County Council, Nose’s Point is situated just south of Seaham and was once the location of Dawdon Colliery – the mainstay of Dawdon’s economy.
The sea has played a key role in the way Nose's Point looks and the plants and animals found here: the Magnesian Limestone bedrock, laid down in an ancient sea, has given rise to a rare form of grassland with unique populations of plants and animals; the dramatic and rugged coastline with its cliffs and sea stacks was carved out by the action of the waves.
The site has now been reclaimed into one of the most stunning gateway sites on the Durham Heritage Coast. Wildflower meadows have been restored, ponds have been created for wildlife, seating areas, artwork and interpretation have been specially designed to reflect the heritage of the area. Marine life has returned to the area in abundance.
The England Coast Path runs through Nose’s Point and the car park here provides a great opportunity to explore the area. Just further south on the Coastal Path is Hawthorn Dene and Meadows, the views on this stretch of coastline are stunning and on a clear day there are clear views all the way to North Yorkshire.
Address
Seaham SR7 7TT
Accessibility
Distance: 1-5 Miles
Grade: Easy
Route Surface: Off Road
Opening Hours
Open all year round
Chopwell Woodland Park
Chopwell Wood has miles of paths and old colliery railway tracks making it very popular with walkers and cyclists. There are four walking trails of varying lengths that criss-cross through the woodland, offering glimpses of the area’s industrial past including restored railway trucks that would have carried coal from the nearby collieries.
Cyclists of all ages and abilities can make the most of the well-surfaced routes. The network of blue graded trails make a great introduction to mountain biking and for a real adrenaline rush, the Powerline Mountain Bike Trail is a fast and exhilarating red graded trail and is part of the Super6 challenge in Northern England.
Address
Rowlands Gill, Gateshead
Sat Nav Postcode: NE39 1LT
By Car
The wood is not signposted until the entrance in the village of High Spen (B6315). Access to the B6315 from the south is off the A694 at Rowlands Gill or from the north at the A695 at Greenside.
By Public Transport
Buses operated by ‘Go Ahead Northeast’ connect the wood with Newcastle City Centre, Newcastle Central Station and the Metrocentre (service number 47). Visitors from Consett (service number 45 or 46) can connect with this bus at Rowlands Gill.
The bus stop for these services is on Hookergate Lane in High Spen, located at the entrance to the road access into the wood. From the bus stop, the trailhead in the main car park is a ten-minute walk along both tarmac road (100 metres) and waymarked forest trail (700
Opening hours
Opened 24 hours all year round
Herrington Country Park
One of the largest parks in Sunderland with walks and cycle trails, family cycling with Sustrans, an adventure play area, skate boarding, Nordic walking, model boat sailing in the lake and a variety of sculptures that celebrate the heritage of the area.
Address:
Chester Rd, Penshaw, New Herrington, Houghton le Spring DH4 7EL
Opening Hours:
Opened 24 hours
Stewart Park
Stewart Park is located in Marton in south Middlesbrough. It covers approximately 120 acres, with open parkland on the northern side, and mature woodland and arboretum on the southern side. Two lakes provide a habitat for waterfowl including geese and ducks, and pets corner is host to many domesticated animals including fallow deer, llamas, and goats.
The area was originally home to Marton Hall, the residence of Henry Bolckow, which was built in 1858.
Central Lodge was also part of Bolckow's estate. It was made up of many rooms, including a coach house and stables, a laundry and drying room, a dairy, and lodgings for the estate workers. Askham Bryan College now uses the refurbished building to provide land-based education, like equine and animal husbandry.
In 1924, Councillor Thomas Dormand Stewart bought the park for the people of Middlesbrough. It was officially opened in 1928.
Captain James Cook was born in a cottage close to where the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum now stands. Although all traces of the cottage have now disappeared, the spot is marked by a granite vase.
Address:
Stewart Park, The Grove, Marton, Middlesbrough, TS7 8AR
Opening Hours:
Open every day, from 7:30am to 6pm