Plan your visit
🧺Picnic🦅Birds🦉Wildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome55 ha
Getting here
54.82174, -1.44046
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦37+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Kestrel and Great Crested Grebe
- 🧺Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out
- 🛝Playground — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦37+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Kestrel and Great Crested Grebe
- 🧺Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out
- 🛝Playground — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🅿️Parking🧺Picnic spot🛝Playground
🧺Picnic day out
Very strong match
picnic area, car park; Country park — good for group day out
Free
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Kestrel, Great Crested Grebe, Barn Owl +34 more · last seen 2026; Country park — mixed habitats
Free
Birds — Kestrel, Great Crested Grebe, Barn Owl +34 more · last seen 2026; Country park — managed habitat
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground, picnic area; Country park — designed for family visits
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Common Ragwort, Common Knapweed, Creeping Buttercup +50 more · last seen 2025; Country park — managed seasonal habitats and events
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km8 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Weardale WayWalking route124 km▾
Named routeLength 124 kmRegional walking route
Red Clover Leaf WalkWalking route▾
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Dragonfly routeWalking route▾
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Shrew routeWalking route▾
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Heron routeWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
71 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Walney to Wear Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef 70National Cycle Network
Route 14Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 14National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 5Cycling route▾
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
NCN 1 Seaham alternativeCycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
NCN 1 Tees to TyneCycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route2.1 km▾
Named routeRef 70Length 2.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Photos
Hetton Lyons Country Park
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
12,247 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
12,247 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds37 species
winterspring
2026▾
Kestrel · Great Crested Grebe · Barn Owl · Coot · Grey Heron +32
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Barn OwlTyto alba
- CootFulica atra
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- EiderSomateria mollissima
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- GadwallMareca strepera2024
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2024
Bank Vole · Wood Mouse · Common Shrew · Pygmy Shrew · Brown Hare +1
- Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2024
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2024
- Common ShrewSorex araneus2024
- Pygmy ShrewSorex minutus2024
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2024
🐸Amphibians2 species
springautumn
2025▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris
- Common FrogRana temporaria
Emperor Dragonfly · Sphaerophoria · Black-Kneed Apple Capsid · Aphrophora alni · Common Green Capsid +12
- Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator
- SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria
- Black-Kneed Apple CapsidBlepharidopterus angulatus
- Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni
- Common Green CapsidLygocoris (Lygocoris) pabulinus
- Pantilius (Pantilius) tunicatusPantilius (Pantilius) tunicatus
Common Ragwort · Common Knapweed · Creeping Buttercup · White Clover · Sycamore +48
- Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
- Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra
- Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
- White CloverTrifolium repens
- SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
- Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
- AshFraxinus excelsior
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
12,247 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds37 species
winterspring
2026▾
Kestrel · Great Crested Grebe · Barn Owl · Coot · Grey Heron +32
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Barn OwlTyto alba
- CootFulica atra
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- EiderSomateria mollissima
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- GadwallMareca strepera2024
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2024
Bank Vole · Wood Mouse · Common Shrew · Pygmy Shrew · Brown Hare +1
- Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2024
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2024
- Common ShrewSorex araneus2024
- Pygmy ShrewSorex minutus2024
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2024
🐸Amphibians2 species
springautumn
2025▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris
- Common FrogRana temporaria
Emperor Dragonfly · Sphaerophoria · Black-Kneed Apple Capsid · Aphrophora alni · Common Green Capsid +12
- Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator
- SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria
- Black-Kneed Apple CapsidBlepharidopterus angulatus
- Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni
- Common Green CapsidLygocoris (Lygocoris) pabulinus
- Pantilius (Pantilius) tunicatusPantilius (Pantilius) tunicatus
Common Ragwort · Common Knapweed · Creeping Buttercup · White Clover · Sycamore +48
- Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
- Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra
- Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
- White CloverTrifolium repens
- SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
- Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
- AshFraxinus excelsior
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Birch Catkin Bug
Birch Catkin Bug
Kleidocerys resedae
Kleidocerys resedae
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctataBrown HawkerAeshna grandisBrown HawkerAeshna grandisBroad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressaBroad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressaFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumEupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollaePlatycheirus scutatusPlatycheirus scutatusPlatycheirus scutatusPlatycheirus scutatusMelangyna umbellatarumMelangyna umbellatarumMelangyna umbellatarumMelangyna umbellatarumMelanostomaMelanostomaMelanostomaMelanostomaHarlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridisHarlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridisHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataCommon NettleUrtica dioicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareCuckooflowerCardamine pratensisCuckooflowerCardamine pratensisNarrow-leaved RagwortSenecio inaequidensNarrow-leaved RagwortSenecio inaequidensBittersweetSolanum dulcamaraBittersweetSolanum dulcamaraWild CarrotDaucus carotaWild CarrotDaucus carotaBush VetchVicia sepiumBush VetchVicia sepiumNipplewortLapsana communisNipplewortLapsana communisCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseSoft-bromeBromus hordeaceusSoft-bromeBromus hordeaceusCrosswortCruciata laevipesCrosswortCruciata laevipesSelfhealPrunella vulgarisSelfhealPrunella vulgarisHedge BindweedCalystegia sepiumHedge BindweedCalystegia sepiumGoat WillowSalix capreaGoat WillowSalix capreaHop TrefoilTrifolium campestreHop TrefoilTrifolium campestrePrickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperPrickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansYellow-rattleRhinanthus minorYellow-rattleRhinanthus minorRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRed FescueFestuca rubraRed FescueFestuca rubraCommon SorrelRumex acetosaCommon SorrelRumex acetosaHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumCowslipPrimula verisCowslipPrimula verisGuelder-roseViburnum opulusGuelder-roseViburnum opulusSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareCurled DockRumex crispusCurled DockRumex crispusCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisPedunculate OakQuercus roburPedunculate OakQuercus roburGreater PlantainPlantago majorGreater PlantainPlantago majorMeadow Crane's-billGeranium pratenseMeadow Crane's-billGeranium pratenseGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaElderSambucus nigraElderSambucus nigraCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusColtsfootTussilago farfaraColtsfootTussilago farfaraPineappleweedMatricaria discoideaPineappleweedMatricaria discoideaRed CloverTrifolium pratenseRed CloverTrifolium pratenseWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumWeldReseda luteolaWeldReseda luteolaBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaCock's-footDactylis glomerataCock's-footDactylis glomerataHorse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumHorse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaEvents & activities nearby
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