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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Discover Wellness in Durham > Nature & Wildlife

Nature & Wildlife

Reconnect with nature and explore Durham's great outdoors, offering serene landscapes, walking trails, and activities to relax the mind, body, and soul.

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Number of results: 36

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  1. Ushaw Historic House and grounds

    Add Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 224 reviews224 reviews

    Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historic House / Palace

    Durham

    Ushaw is set in the beautiful Durham countryside and houses architectural gems by Augustus Pugin and his followers. This amazing venue offers a wide variety of activities, events and exhibitions - something for all ages!

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Green Tourism Awards - Bronze 2025Green Tourism Awards - Bronze
    More info for Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  2. Autumn hills at North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

    Add North Pennines National Landscape to your Itinerary

    North Pennines National Landscape

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Routes

    The North Pennines National Landscape incorporates much of the Durham Dales, and is a stunning landscape of open heather moors, dramatic dales, tumbling upland rivers, wonderful woods, close-knit communities, glorious waterfalls, fantastic birds,…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for North Pennines National Landscape
  3. Stanhope Fossil Tree

    Add Stanhope Fossil Tree to your Itinerary

    Stanhope Fossil Tree

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    The Stanhope tree was found in a sandstone quarry at Edmundbyers Cross, north of Stanhope, in 1915. Its discovery is recorded by this photograph in the Auckland and County Chronicle, dated 13 May 1915. The accompanying article also mentions another…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Stanhope Fossil Tree
  4. Old Durham Gardens

    Add Old Durham Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 17 reviews17 reviews

    Old Durham Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Garden

    Durham

    Old Durham Gardens can be found less than a mile east of Durham City Centre. The gardens can be reached through a number of walks, including a very pleasant route through Pelaw Woods and provide a charming public space for everyone to enjoy.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Old Durham Gardens
  5. Aycliffe Nature Park

    Add Aycliffe Nature Park to your Itinerary

    Aycliffe Nature Park

    Type

    Type:

    Parkland / Woodland Garden

    Newton Aycliffe

    Aycliffe Nature Park is located to the east of Newton Aycliffe, where a disused railway line crosses under the A167 and is accessed either via Groat Drive or from Travellers Green. The site of Ayciffe nature park is wholly owned by Great Aycliffe…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Aycliffe Nature Park
  6. Causey Arch and Picnic Area

    Add Causey Arch and Picnic Area to your Itinerary

    Causey Arch and Picnic Area

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Stanley

    Picnic site which is home to the world’s oldest surviving single arch railway bridge.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Causey Arch and Picnic Area
  7. Crook Hall Gardens

    Add Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1049 reviews1049 reviews

    Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    National Trust

    Durham City

    The medieval hall merges into a Jacobean manor house, which in turn merges into a Georgian town house, reflecting its development over the centuries. The Hall provides a spectacular backdrop to the stunning 10-acre gardens, paddock and fields,…

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to20 Dec 2025
    More info for Crook Hall Gardens
  8. Durham University Botanic Garden

    Add Durham University Botanic Garden to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 441 reviews441 reviews

    Durham University Botanic Garden

    Type

    Type:

    Botanic Garden

    Durham City

    Set in countryside and mature woodland. Plant collections from North America, Himalayas and China, glasshouse rainforest and desert plants. Six Colin Wilbourne sculptures in landscaped garden.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Green Awards Green Tourism Business Scheme - Silver 2015Green Tourism Business Scheme - Silver
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Durham University Botanic Garden
  9. Path surrounded by heather in Hedleyhope Fell

    Add Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Tow Law

    One of the largest mid-altitude heathlands remaining in County Durham, Hedleyhope Fell is a mosaic of heather, bilberry, acid grassland, rush pasture, bracken beds, patches of gorse and scattered trees.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve
  10. coached sports session Durham city Wharton park family fun

    Add Wharton Park to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 88 reviews88 reviews

    Wharton Park

    Type

    Type:

    Municipal Park

    Durham City

    This VisitEngland accredited attraction Wharton Park commands spectacular views across Durham City. The historic park now offers a brand new heritage centre and cafe, play area for all ages, an amphitheatre and miniature car track, multi-use games…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Wharton Park
  11. Pow Hill Country Park

    Add Pow Hill Country Park to your Itinerary

    Pow Hill Country Park

    Type

    Type:

    Country / Royal Park

    Edmundbyers

    A moorland country park on the banks of the Derwent Reservoir.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Pow Hill Country Park
  12. Hamsterley Forest green man sculpture

    Add Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 451 reviews451 reviews

    Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Forest

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    Information point and tearoom, forest drive with children's play area. Four mile forest drive runs through the forest giving access to picnic sites along the way.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    More info for Hamsterley Forest
  13. Replica mine shaft overlooking the sea

    Add Easington Colliery Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Easington Colliery Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Near Easington Colliery

    The site of the former Easington Colliery has been designated as a local nature reserve and has good car parking facilities very close to the coastal footpath.  

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Easington Colliery Nature Reserve
  14. Aerial view of Blast Beach

    Add Blast Beach to your Itinerary

    Blast Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Seaham

    The Durham Coast is well known for its spectacular wildflowers. Some of the fields at Blast Beach are among the best places to enjoy them, with plants like bloody cranesbill, dyer’s greenweed and devil’s-bit scabious creating a riot of colour in the…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Blast Beach
  15. Rock formation and beach

    Add Blackhall Rocks & Cross Gill Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Blackhall Rocks & Cross Gill Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Blackhall Colliery

    This coastal site is as important for both its geology and wildlife. The cliffs and coastal area feature natural exposures of reef-limestone, set down 250 million years ago in the waters on the ancient Zechstein Sea, glacial boulder clays and beds…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Blackhall Rocks & Cross Gill Nature Reserve
  16. Deer in forest

    Add Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Peterlee

    Castle Eden Dene is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and 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.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve
  17. Footpath through Hawthorn Dene

    Add Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Hawthorn Village

    The second largest coastal Dene in the county, consisting of relatively unspoilt ancient woodland and species rich limestone hay meadows.  

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve
  18. High Force Waterfall

    Add High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1353 reviews1353 reviews

    High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    Forest in Teesdale

    High Force is one of the most impressive waterfalls in England. The River Tees has been plunging into this gorge for thousands of years but the rocks it reveals are far more ancient – with origins dating back over 300 million yrs.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    From:
    1 Nov 2025to31 Mar 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for High Force Waterfall
  19. Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Add Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 125 reviews125 reviews

    Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring

    Rainton Meadows was created by the restoration of the Rye Hill Opencast coal mine in 1996 by UK Coal in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust and the City of Sunderland.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre
  20. Tees Riverside and Hay Meadows Walk

    Add Low Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Low Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    Near Middleton-in Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Low Force waterfall is part of the River Tees in beautiful Upper Teesdale. It is easily accessible from Bowlees Visitor Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Low Force Waterfall
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