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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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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

, currently showing 1 to 20.

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  1. Crimdon beach on sunny day

    Crimdon Dene Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Crimdon

    With its sandy beaches, Crimdon has been a popular place for holiday makers for many years. From the 1920’s miners came to Crimdon for their annual summer holidays.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Crimdon Dene Beach
  2. Image of Pelaw Wood overlooking Durham Cathedral in the distance.

    Add Pelaw Wood Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Pelaw Wood Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Durham

    Pelaw Wood Nature Reserve is a beautiful woodland home to many varieties of wildlife, with public rights of way providing a range of interesting walks.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Pelaw Wood Nature Reserve
  3. deer park auckland palace county durham

    Add Auckland Palace Deer House and Park to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 7 reviews7 reviews

    Auckland Palace Deer House and Park

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Bishop Auckland

    A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Auckland Palace Deer House and Park
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Trees and a part area at National Trust - Gibside

    Add National Trust - Gibside to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 851 reviews851 reviews

    National Trust - Gibside

    Type

    Type:

    Garden

    Gateshead

    Discover fine Derwent Valley views, winding paths and refreshing open spaces. Escape along the avenue and around the gardens for miles of tranquil walks and picnic spots or enjoy family fun at Strawberry Castle play area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    More info for National Trust - Gibside
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. View of Nose's Point

    Add Nose’s Point Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Nose’s Point Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Near Seaham

    The sea has played a key role in the way Nose’s Point looks and the plants and animals found here, the magnesian limestone bedrock, laid down in an ancient sea, has given rise to a rare form of grassland with unique populations of plants and animals…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Nose’s Point Nature Reserve
  13. Hesleden Dene woodland walk with woodland flowers

    Add Hesleden Dene Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Hesleden Dene Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Hesleden

    The reserve has exceptional natural exposures of magnesian limestone eroded to produce impressive outcrops with many caves and fissures. Hesleden Dene is best visited in spring for the woodland flora and autumn for the fungi and turning leaves.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Hesleden Dene Nature Reserve
  14. 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
  15. Durham Heritage Coast

    Add Durham Heritage Coast to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 210 reviews210 reviews

    Durham Heritage Coast

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Seaham

    Experience the colourful and dramatic landscape of Durham’s Heritage Coast with its beaches, rugged cliffs and magnificent flora and fauna.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Durham Heritage Coast
  16. West Park

    Add West Park to your Itinerary

    West Park

    Type

    Type:

    Parkland / Woodland Garden

    Newton Aycliffe

    West Park is situated next to Ashfield and Oakfield. Apart from a large recreation area it has a large man-made lake which is home during the day to various wild fowl. There are picnic benches situated around the sides of the bottom lake.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for West Park
  17. Hardwick Park at sunset

    Add Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 478 reviews478 reviews

    Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Parkland / Woodland Garden

    Sedgefield

    This VisitEngland accredited attraction is an 18th Century parkland featuring beautiful views, rich heritage, archaeological remains and ecological diversity - a remarkable place to visit. The park is open daily with events held throughout the year.…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    More info for Hardwick Park
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. A building and the sea at Seaham Harbour Marina

    Add Seaham Harbour Marina to your Itinerary

    Seaham Harbour Marina

    Type

    Type:

    Marina

    Seaham

    The multi award-winning Seaham Marina is County Durham's one and only marina. The marina provides facilities for 96 boats and is home to a fantastic selection of local businesses. From cafes serving delicious homemade cakes to physiotherapy and…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Seaham Harbour Marina
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