Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessDogs welcome
Getting here
54.67652, -1.89111
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦69+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Woodcock
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦69+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Woodcock
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Woodcock, Blackbird +66 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
🦉Wildlife
Very strong match
Mammals — Hedgehog, Grey Squirrel, Roe Deer +13 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Green-veined White, Peacock, Orange-tip +84 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Broad-leaved Helleborine, Bilberry, Common Valerian +104 more · last seen 2025
Free
🧺Picnic day out
Strong match
picnic area
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
Mineral Valleys Walk: Frosterley (Walk 3)Walking route7.5 km▾
Named routeLength 7.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Spurlswood WalkWalking route7.2 km▾
Named routeRef SpurlswoodLength 7.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Tree WalkWalking route▾
Named routeRef TreeLocal walking route
Three Becks WalkWalking route7.2 km▾
Named routeLength 7.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
8 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Walney to Wear Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef 70National Cycle Network
National Byway (County Durham and Northumberland)Cycling route▾
The National Byway route through County Durham and Northumberland
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route3.3 km▾
Named routeRef 70Length 3.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface 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
Main RouteCycling route3.1 km▾
Named routeRef 70Length 3.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
5 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
The LoopMountain bike route▾
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
Photos
Remains of Metcalfe's House
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysEvents & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
7,798 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
7,798 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds16 species
winterspring
2026▾
Woodcock · Tawny Owl · Treecreeper · Nuthatch · Long-tailed Tit +11
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- MagpiePica pica
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Hedgehog
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians2 species
winterspringautumn
2026▾
Common Toad · Common Frog
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects2 species
winterautumn
2026▾
2-spot Ladybird · Anoplotrupes stercorosus
- 2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
- Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus2025
Wood Fescue · Juniper · Tormentil · Purple Moor-grass · Mat-grass +69
- Wood FescueDrymochloa sylvatica
- JuniperJuniperus communis
- TormentilPotentilla erecta
- Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Mat-grassNardus stricta
- HeatherCalluna vulgaris
- BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
7,798 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds16 species
winterspring
2026▾
Woodcock · Tawny Owl · Treecreeper · Nuthatch · Long-tailed Tit +11
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- MagpiePica pica
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Hedgehog
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians2 species
winterspringautumn
2026▾
Common Toad · Common Frog
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects2 species
winterautumn
2026▾
2-spot Ladybird · Anoplotrupes stercorosus
- 2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
- Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus2025
Wood Fescue · Juniper · Tormentil · Purple Moor-grass · Mat-grass +69
- Wood FescueDrymochloa sylvatica
- JuniperJuniperus communis
- TormentilPotentilla erecta
- Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Mat-grassNardus stricta
- HeatherCalluna vulgaris
- BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas