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Cowclose Plantation

✦ Ancient woodland35 ha

📷 Roger Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome35 ha

Getting here

54.61715, -1.88078

Open directionsv
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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking on site — 2 car parks within reach

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking· Free

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blackbird, Swallow, Song Thrush +68 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Swallow, Song Thrush +68 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Blueish Veilwort, Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea, Heath Speedwell +33 more · last seen 2023

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Small White +44 more · last seen 2023; Insects — Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Small White +44 more · last seen 2023

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby · 18 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Spurlswood WalkWalking route7.2 km
Named routeRef SpurlswoodLength 7.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Gaunless Valley Heritage WalkWalking route9 km
Named routeLength 9 kmRound tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Walney to Wear Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeRef 70National Cycle Network
Former NCN 70 around Barnard CastleCycling route
Named routePoint-to-pointRegional cycle route
National Byway (County Durham and Northumberland)Cycling route

The National Byway route through County Durham and Northumberland

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route36 m
Named routeRef 70Length 36 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route2.9 km
Named routeRef 70Length 2.9 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route1.3 km
Named routeRef 70Length 1.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Red route (difficult)Mountain bike route23.5 km
Named routeRef RedLength 23.5 kmRound trip
Black (Severe)Mountain bike route13 km
Named routeRef BlackLength 13 kmRound trip
Blue route (moderate)Mountain bike route14.5 km
Named routeRef BlueLength 14.5 kmRound trip
Hamsterley Common CircuitMountain bike route38 km
Named routeRef CDW13Length 38 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

5 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

House adjacent to Cowclose Plantation

📷 Roger Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

House adjacent to Cowclose Plantation

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Enclosures and industrial workings on Cockfield FellHistoric site4.5 km→✦Millfield Grange CollieryHistoric site3.9 km→✦Enclosure on Cockfield FellHistoric site4 km→✦EarthworksHistoric site4.4 km→⚽Hazelgrove GroundsPlaying field4.8 km→✦Holly Moor collieryHistoric site3.7 km→

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