Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🐶Dogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha
Getting here
54.51056, -1.53604
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- ☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- ☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required
Best for
6 activities🦅Bird watching
Strong match
Nature reserve
Dogs allowed — nature reserve
🍂Seasonal nature
Good match
Nature reserve — seasonal wildlife and habitats
🧺Picnic day out
Moderate match
Nature reserve — public outdoor space
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Teesdale Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Middlesbrough)Walking route▾
UK long distance footpath from Dufton to Warrenby.
Named routeRegional walking route
Alternatives in Teesdale Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Middlesbrough)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
35 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 14Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 14National Cycle Network
Mowden Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef MowdenLocal cycle route
National Cycle Route 165Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 165National Cycle Network
Darlington LoopCycling route▾
Named routeRef LoopLocal cycle route
Morton Park Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef MortonLocal cycle route
Baydale Beck Cycle PathCycling route▾
Named routeRef BaydaleLocal cycle route
2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
West Park BMX TrackMountain bike route▾
Faverdale BMX TrackMountain bike route▾
Photos
21 photos from nearby open sources
Backs of houses on Brankin Road, Darlington, from the railway
Photos
Backs of houses on Brankin Road, Darlington, from the railway
✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
8,072 records from NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
8,072 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds33 species
autumnwinter
2026Woodpigeon · Mallard · Blackbird · Rock Dove · Moorhen
+28 more speciesHide species list
All 33 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- CootFulica atra
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
- GoosanderMergus merganser2025
- Rose-coloured StarlingPastor roseus2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
Daubenton's Bat · Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2026Common Toad
Common Darter · Migrant Hawker · Willow Emerald Damselfly · Southern Hawker · Brown Hawker
+14 more speciesHide species list
All 19 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025
- Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2025
- Willow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridis2025
- Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025
- Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2025
🌿Plants16 species
springautumnwinter
2026Giant Hogweed · Hogweed · Daisy · Yew · Red Campion
+11 more speciesHide species list
All 16 plants recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2025
- HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
- DaisyBellis perennis
- YewTaxus baccata
- Red CampionSilene dioica2025
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
8,072 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds33 species
autumnwinter
2026Woodpigeon · Mallard · Blackbird · Rock Dove · Moorhen
+28 more speciesHide species list
All 33 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- CootFulica atra
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
- GoosanderMergus merganser2025
- Rose-coloured StarlingPastor roseus2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
Daubenton's Bat · Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2026Common Toad
Common Darter · Migrant Hawker · Willow Emerald Damselfly · Southern Hawker · Brown Hawker
+14 more speciesHide species list
All 19 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025
- Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2025
- Willow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridis2025
- Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025
- Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2025
🌿Plants16 species
springautumnwinter
2026Giant Hogweed · Hogweed · Daisy · Yew · Red Campion
+11 more speciesHide species list
All 16 plants recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2025
- HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
- DaisyBellis perennis
- YewTaxus baccata
- Red CampionSilene dioica2025
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas