← Back🦉 Nature reserve

CRESSWELL DUNES

25 ha

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeDogs

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome25 ha

Getting here

55.22257, -1.53236

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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 nearby — easy to reach by car

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞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 nearby — easy to reach by car

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Parking· Free

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Strong match

Nature reserve

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Nature reserve

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — nature reserve

Free

Forest walks

Strong match

Nature reserve

Free

Hiking

Good match

Named hiking route nearby: King Charles III England Coast Path: South Bents to Amble

Free

Cycling

Good match

Named cycling route nearby: Route 1

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Northumberland Coast PathWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

King Charles III England Coast Path: South Bents to AmbleWalking route

Named routeRef ECPNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

33 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

NCN National Route 155Cycling route

Named routeRef 155National Cycle Network

Route 1Cycling route

NCN 1 Tyne to Alnmouth

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 6Cycling route

Tynemouth - Edinburgh

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

Main RouteCycling route212 m

Named routeLength 212 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route39 m

Named routeRef 1Length 39 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route4 km

Named routeRef 1Length 4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

About this nature reserve

Cresswell Dunes is a 25-hectare local nature reserve in Northumberland, North East England. This coastal area features sand dunes and wetlands, home to various bird species and unique coastal plants.

Wildlife to spot

15,068 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

15,068 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds65 species

autumn

2025

Great Black-backed Gull · Herring Gull · Black-headed Gull · Oystercatcher · Cormorant +60

Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
EiderSomateria mollissima
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
GannetMorus bassanus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
RedshankTringa totanus
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
CurlewNumenius arquata
RobinErithacus rubecula
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Common GullLarus canus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
FulmarFulmarus glacialis
DunnockPrunella modularis
DunlinCalidris alpina
SanderlingCalidris alba
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
TealAnas crecca
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
JackdawColoeus monedula
MagpiePica pica
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
BlackbirdTurdus merula
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
RazorbillAlca torda
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
RookCorvus frugilegus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Rock DoveColumba livia
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
SnipeGallinago gallinago
GoosanderMergus merganser
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea
ShagGulosus aristotelis
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis

🐝

Insects1 species

autumn

2025

Gorse Shieldbug

Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

15,068 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds65 species

autumn

2025

Great Black-backed Gull · Herring Gull · Black-headed Gull · Oystercatcher · Cormorant +60

Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
EiderSomateria mollissima
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
GannetMorus bassanus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
RedshankTringa totanus
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
CurlewNumenius arquata
RobinErithacus rubecula
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Common GullLarus canus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
FulmarFulmarus glacialis
DunnockPrunella modularis
DunlinCalidris alpina
SanderlingCalidris alba
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
TealAnas crecca
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
JackdawColoeus monedula
MagpiePica pica
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
BlackbirdTurdus merula
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
RazorbillAlca torda
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
RookCorvus frugilegus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Rock DoveColumba livia
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
SnipeGallinago gallinago
GoosanderMergus merganser
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea
ShagGulosus aristotelis
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis

🐝

Insects1 species

autumn

2025

Gorse Shieldbug

Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Field entrance beside the Cresswell coast road

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱The Couple GardenUrban park4.4 km→🌱Queen Elizabeth II Country ParkUrban park3.6 km→🦉QUEEN ELIZABETH II COUNTRY PARKNature reserve3.6 km→🏞️QUEEN ELIZABETH IICountry park3.6 km→🌱Centennial GardenUrban park1 km→🌱Queen Elizabeth II Country ParkUrban park3.6 km→

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