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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Things to Do > Hamsterley Forest

Hamsterley Forest

Forestry England
Redford
Hamsterley Forest
County Durham
DL13 3NL

Tel: +44 01388 488312

Email

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Add Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

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About

2000 hectares of mixed scenic woodland lying between the Wear and Tees valleys on the edge of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hamsterley is a delightful oasis of broadleaved and coniferous woodland, sprawling along the sides of a sheltered valley. Visitors to Hamsterley have no shortage of options when it comes to activities. With waymarked walks*,  cycle routes* and horse riding trails*, all levels of fitness and ability are catered for. 

**free maps of all our trails are available from either the cafe or information point. You can also find free downloadable maps from our website   www.forestry.gov.uk/hamsterleyforest

There is also a forest play park which is open all year round with a new area of Viking Themed play equipment aimed at the kids, as well as a Gruffalo Spotters trail . A Discovery Pass is available to buy which gives free parking all year round plus other benefits for only £49.00 per annum.

Horse Riding is welcomed in the forest and some quieter routes away from the main recreational hub can be found. 

Hamsterley Forest is a big magnet for mountain bikers with a number of fantastic sections of exhilarating single track.  Families are also well catered for with a multi-user trail along the tranquil Bedburn Beck with exciting play areas to keep the children active and occupied for hours! Relax at the end of your visit with some homemade cake at the Hamsterley Cafe and Ice Cream Kiosk.

For the extreme end of mountain biking Danny Harts Descend Hamsterley has a number of orange graded downhill trails. Go to the latest info on the only North of England Downhil Centre at https://www.descendbikepark.com/

Please note, we have no (or very limited) phone coverage anywhere in the forest  

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Forest Drive Toll Per Car £6 (£10 Easter, May and August Bank Holiday weekends). £12 per mini bus. £18 per coach. Annual Discovery Pass available £49

We now have a new pay on exit system in place. Number plate cameras will record your entry, just input your car registration at a pay station just before you leave and pay. All our pay stations accept card payment ONLY (except the one next to the Café which takes both cash and cards)

Gradings

  • VAQAS VB Attraction
VAQAS VB Attraction

Awards

  • Visit EnglandVAQAS VAQAS 2019
  • Visit EnglandQuality Assured Visitor Attraction Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017
  • Regional and MiscellaneousTripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4 of 5 stars
407 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2022
  • Excellent
    223
  • Very Good
    117
  • Average
    29
  • Poor
    14
  • Terrible
    24

Recent Reviews:

  • Lazylorna14
    Trip Type:
    Friends getaway
    Hamsterley is such a lovely place to visit… however
    1 of 5 stars
    Sunday, 17th April 2022
    I have no idea what happened today but we were following the 4 mile orange route, got hideously lost! Walked 12 miles!! Signage was terrible, in-fact none existent. Found a sign eventually that said... Read full review
  • JohnnyMannbagg
    United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Family
    Great Fiendly place
    5 of 5 stars
    Friday, 29th April 2022
    Another lovely visit today....lovely walks and a nice sunny day. Spoke to a couple of the maintenance rangers called Brenda and another very friendly guy (think his name was Herbert?). They were... Read full review
  • snooks5970
    Holt, United Kingdom
    Stunning.
    5 of 5 stars
    Sunday, 22nd May 2022
    Ad a lovely couple of hours here.Great for families with lots of activities for children. Stunning setting. Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2022

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Access Statement - Please see below

Parking & Transport

  • Parking (charge) - £6 to park all day, £10 on all bank holiday weekends from Easter to August inclusive

Provider Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted - also allowed in cafe. (stick & flick policy on dog waste)

Access Information

Visit External Site

Opening Times

2022 (1 Jan 2022 - 31 Dec 2022)

* Forest open all year round (24 hours a day) for access on foot or by bicycle. Main Bedburn car park is open 24 hours a day. Forest Drive and associated car parks are open 9am-4pm (weekends Apr-Oct, 9am-5pm). No overnight parking is permitted.

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forestry.england.uk

Map & Directions

Map Link

View Map

Road Directions

Nearest major road is A68. Follow brown 'Hamsterley Forest' signs from A68 north of Bishop Auckland.

Public Transport Directions

Unfortunately, there is no public transport available to the forest

Highlights...

Cycling at Hamsterley Forest Hamsterley Forest Orange Walk, Hamsterley ForestA route around the Bedburn valley giving elevated views over the forest and showing varied habitats of mixed woodland.

Family cycling in DurhamCycling at Hamsterley Forest, Hamsterley ForestHamsterley Forest is one of the Northeast’s premier mountain bike destinations, with over 2000 hectares of forest to explore on 33 miles of waymarked trails and countless more miles of seldom travelled forest road Hamsterley Forest has something for cyclists of all-abilities.

Walking at Hamsterley ForestWalking at Hamsterley Forest, Hamsterley ForestWhen you walk around Hamsterley Forest you are walking through a former agricultural and shooting estate. Three walks start from the notice board in the Bedburn car park opposite the cycle hire and two further walks start along the valley from Grove and Blackling Hole car parks.

Hamsterley ForestHorse Riding at Hamsterley Forest, Hamsterley ForestEnjoy miles of waymarked horse-riding routes that let you explore the heart of this beautiful forest. Please note, dedicated horse box parking is located in the Grove car park, 2 miles along the Forest Drive from the Bedburn entrance.

Further Information

  • Gruffalo Spotter App

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