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You are here > Home > Things to Do > Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

Durham Wildlife Trust
Rainton Meadows
Chilton Moor
Houghton le Spring
Tyne and Wear
DH4 6PU

Tel: +44 0191 584 3112

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Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre
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About

Home to Durham Wildlife Trust’s headquarters. The visitor centre is open seven days a week from 10am – 4.30pm as is the nature-themed WildPlay area. The centre has a range of facilities including toilets, a classroom, meeting rooms and a coffee shop.

There is an excellent network of accessible pathways linking viewing areas that look across the lakes and wetlands, with areas of grassland and woodland completing the habitats on site.

Although a relatively new site Rainton Meadows has developed into a significant area for wildlife over the last 20 years. The wetlands and grasslands support a wide range of birds and over 200 species have been recorded. Waders such as redshank, oystercatcher, lapwing are regularly seen and also more unusual species such as little ringed plover. All five species of UK owl can be seen at different times of the year and there are good numbers of warblers, finches, tits and farmland birds.

Stoat, weasel, brown hare and roe deer are regularly seen and the wetlands attract numerous dragonflies and damselflies. Butterfly numbers are also high, particularly grassland species.

Native breed cattle are used to naturally manage the grasslands during the winter months (all grazing is within fenced compartments) adding to the interest on site.

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Access to Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre is free but non-members are asked to make a donation for car parking.

Awards

  • Regional and MiscellaneousNorthern Saints Trails Passport Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
117 reviews
    • Excellent
      59
    • Very Good
      39
    • Average
      12
    • Poor
      5
    • Terrible
      2

    Recent Reviews:

    • sheila g
      Houghton-le-Spring, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Family
      Lovely
      5 of 5 stars
      Tuesday, 14th December 2021
      This is a lovely area to enjoy any time of year. Nice easy walks with good wheelchair access. The visitor centre has a small shop, cafe and toilets. Well worth joining the Durham Wildlife Trust to... Read full review
    • 16martind
      Durham, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Family
      A lovely place for a little family walk
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 5th March 2022
      We went for a family visit with our two young boys (1 and 4). They both loved exploring the paths and seeing the birds. Free maps of leaflets at the visitor centre were very helpful. The paths are... Read full review
    • sarpor
      Trip Type:
      Solo travel
      Beautiful walk
      5 of 5 stars
      Friday, 19th August 2022
      This place is beautiful. It is well kept and I saw very little dog much and absolutely no rubbish. There are a few circular walks that you can do, ranging from 1km to 2.5km. We saw some beautiful... Read full review
    Write a review
    © TripAdvisor 2023

    Access Information

    Opening Times

    2023 (1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023)

    * Car park barriers now open from 9.30 – 4.30

    facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DurhamWildlifeTrust/

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