Gateshead Countryside Visitor Centres & Sites
Did you know that over half of Gateshead is made up of countryside?
The Council cares for over 20 nature reserves and country parks for the benefit of people and wildlife. These wonderful places include ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows, ponds and riverbanks and most are just a bus ride away.
There is lots to see and do in Gateshead's countryside, you can take a walk, watch wildlife and escape from the stresses of modern life. Why not go along to one of their 100 events that take place though out the year?
The Countryside Rangers are always willing to answer questions and give advice about wildlife and the countryside.
Countryside Visitor Centres & Sites
1. Thornley Woodlands Centre
The Visitor Centre is in the heart of the woodlands of the Derwent Walk Country Park and is easily reached from the A694 at Rowlands Gill. The Centre is open 12 noon to 5pm weekends and spring and summer Bank Holidays. During the week it is open 12 noon to 2pm. Facilities include car parking, toilets, information and displays. There is also a bus stop outside the Centre.
Phone: 01207 545212
...or visit the Derwent Walk Country Park page for more information.
2. Swalwell Visitor Centre
At the Swalwell end of the Derwent Walk, Swalwell Visitor Centre is on the B6317 beside Blaydon Rugby Club. The Centre is open 10am to 5pm daily, even if members of staff are not present. Facilities include car parking, toilets, information and displays. There is a bus stop beside the access road to the Centre.
Phone: 0191 414 2106
...or visit the Derwent Walk Country Park page for more information.
3. Addison and Hedgfield Woods
- Quiet meadows and woodland with a significant local past
- This woodland was once a thriving colliery and village where the inventor of the telephone made an experimental call
- Circular walks available
Opposite the old St Hilda's Church on the B6317 at Hedgfield near Ryton.
Phone: 0191 433 3443
4. Banesley Lane Woodland
- A small maturing woodland with a circular walk and fine views.
Access from Banesley Lane, between Lady Park and Old Ravensworth near the Southern end of the Team Valley Trading Estate.
Phone: 0191 433 3443
5. Bensham Butterfly Station
- A pocket-sized paradise packed with summer wildflowers and minibeasts.
Please note: Access for educational establishments and community groups is by arrangement only.
Off Elysium Lane, Bensham.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
6. Blaydon Burn
- Project to conserve the wildlife & archaeology of Blaydon Burn
- One of the most important sites for industrial archaeology in the region
- Mature woodland, meadows & wetlands
Serveral access points including adjacent to the Black Bull pub, off the B6317, Blaydon.
Phone: 0191 433 3525
...or visit the Blaydon Burn Nature Reserve page for more information.
7. Burdon Moor
- Long-term project to recreate a lowland heath
- The site offers a taste of that wild upland experience, near to one of Gateshead's highest points
- Artistic waymarked trail from Watergate Forest Park and Kibblesworth
- A good place to see a range of birds in summer
Access is from the Bowes Railway Path on the opposite side of the road from the
Tanfield Railway.
Phone: 0191 433 3443
8. Cross Lane Meadows
- Traditionally managed wildflower meadows and developing woodland
- Spectacular display of Cowslips in spring.
Opposite the MetroCentre between Swalwell and Dunston. Access from Market Lane, Swallwell.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
9. Derwent Walk Country Park and Derwenthaugh Park
- Gateshead COuntryside's premier site
- A mixture of natural woodlands, meadows, riverside and reclaimed industrial land
- The Derwent Walk has marked trails for all users - walkers, cyclists and hores riders
- Two visitor centres
- Two bird hides
- Easy access to all parts of Derwenthaugh Park and the Derwent Walk
Between Swallwell and Rowlands Gill.
Phone: 01207 545212
...or visit the Derwent Walk Country Park page for more information.
10. Dunston Pond Local Nature
- A small wetland near the MetroCentre which is the home to a pair of breeding Mute Swans
Access is off Wellington Road, Dunston near the railway bridge.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
11. The Kittiwake Tower
- An artificial nesting platform on the banks of the Tyne
- Home to some of the most inland breeding Kittiwakes in the world
Saltmeadows Riverside.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
12. Lamesley Pastures
- Project to recreate 'silver meadows' or traditional winter flood meadows
- New bird hide
- Short walk in pretty rural setting
Access from the car park of the Ravensworth Arms Hotel, Lamesley.
Phone: 0191 433 3443
13. Longacre Wood
- Three ages of woodland from young plantation to mature woodland
- Gateshead's best Bluebell wood
Between the A1 and Lamesley, access from Smithy Lane.
Phone: 0191 460 4696
14. Norwood Nature Park
- Originally created as part of Gateshead's 1990 National Garden Festival site
- A paradise of woodland, wetland and wildflower meadow on the edge of the Team Valley Trading Estate
Please note: Access for educational establishments and community groups is by arrangement only.
Access is off Swallowtail Drive, Festival Park, off Lobley Hill Road.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
15. Ousbrough Wood
- Magical ancient woodland with a surprising industrial past
Access from High Forge near Beamish.
Phone: 0191 433 3443
16. Ryton Willows Local Nature Reserve
- Riverside grassland, woodlands and ponds
- Keelman's Way riverside cycle route
- Marked trail
Between old Ryton Village and the River Tyne.
Phone: 0191 433 6266
17. Shibdon Pond Local Nature Reserve
- Award winning wildlife site
- A Durham Wildlife Trust Reserve
- Large pond, marsh, grassland and scrub
- Bird hide
- Marked trail
Beside Blaydon Pool on the B6371.
Phone: 0191 433 6266
18. Stargate ponds
Access is off the A695 at Stargate.
Phone: 0191 433 6266
19. Summerhill and Stella Meadows
- Old wildflower meadows with great views of the Tyne and a fascinating ancient history
- Circular walk available
Access from lay-by on the B6317 Stella Road, west of Caroline Terrace.
Phone: 0191 433 3443
20. Windy Nook Nature Park
- A large area of public open space in the east of Gateshead
- Spectacular panoramic views of Tyneside
- A large network of surfaced paths provides access for people with disabilities
- The wildlife interest on site includes a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) on the western edge of the site. This LNR has a small spring-fed pond, areas of scrub and a young woodland
Access off Stone Street, Windy Nook.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
21. Wardley Manor Country Park
- Reclamation site with grassland and ponds
- Large area of open green space in the east of Gateshead
- Includes Pelaw Quarry Pond Local Nature Reserve
- Circular walks and opportunities for cycling and horse riding
Access from Mill Lane, Hebburn or from the Bowes Railway Path.
Phone: 0191 460 4696
22. Watergate Forest Park
- Site of the former Watergate Colliery
- A country park with lake, woodland and wildflower meadows
- A Great North Forest Gateway site in recognition of its ease of access to the wider countryside
- Marked routes including easy access route for people with disabilities
- Home of the National Willow Collection
- Wide range of sculptures
Off Whickham Highway at Lobley Hill.
Phone: 0191 460 4696
...or visit the Washingwell Wood & Watergate Forest Park page for more information.
Bird Hides
There are bird hides at
Thornley Wood and
Far Pasture Ponds in the Derwent Walk Country Park, at
Shibdon Pond and at Lamesley Pastures. Access is by key only - available from the Thornley Woodlands Centre and the Development and Enterprise Reception at the Civic Centre.
Events
A full programme of over 100 events, from Red Kite Safaris to Minibeast Hunts, run throughout the year. Events are listed in the Gateshead 'Outdoor Events' leaflet, in 'Council News', at
www.gateshead.gov.uk or by ringing the contacts listed in the right column on this page.
School Visits
A specialist environmental education service is provided at Thornley Woodlands Centre and at the larger countryside sites.
Phone: 01207 545212
Schools interested in a long term involvement in Watergate Forest Park can join the 'Watergate Watchers' scheme. For other sites, ring the number for that site.
Volunteers
If you are over 18 and would like to help look after Gateshead's countryside and learn more about wildlife then why not join Gateshead Countryside Volunteers.
Phone: 0191 433 3524
Wildlife Watch
Wildlife Watch is a nature club for children 7 - 12 years old. Gateshead's Watch club meet once every two months at Norwood Nature Park.
Phone: 0191 433 3441
Northern Kites
Northern Kites is a project to reintroduce Red Kites into their former breeding range in the northeast of England after an absence of 150 years. It is a joint initiative between Natural England, RSPB, Gateshead Council, Northumbria Water, The National Trust and the Forestry Commission.
Northern Kites Office... Phone: 0191 496 1555
1. Thornley Woodlands Centre