Things to Do in Durham
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You are here > Home > Discover Wellness in Durham > 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.
Number of results: 36
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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!
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,…
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…
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.
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…
Picnic Site
Stanley
Picnic site which is home to the world’s oldest surviving single arch railway bridge.
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,…
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.
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.
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…
Country / Royal Park
Edmundbyers
A moorland country park on the banks of the Derwent Reservoir.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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.
Nature Reserve
Hawthorn Village
The second largest coastal Dene in the county, consisting of relatively unspoilt ancient woodland and species rich limestone hay meadows.
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.
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.
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.
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