Plan your visit
🛝Family🧺Picnic🎠Play
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome38 ha
Getting here
54.85432, -1.56370
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦105+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Dipper and Grey Heron
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- ☕Riverside Café — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦105+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Dipper and Grey Heron
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- ☕Riverside Café — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
☕Café🅿️Parking· Paid🛝Playground🚻Toilets
🛝Family friendly
Very strong match
playground, café, toilets; Urban park — family destination
Free
🧺Picnic day out
Very strong match
café, toilets, car park; Urban park — open green space
Free
🎠Playgrounds
Very strong match
playground, toilets, café, parking
Free
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Dipper, Grey Heron, Mute Swan +102 more · last seen 2026
Free
Birds — Dipper, Grey Heron, Mute Swan +102 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Banded Demoiselle, Eristalis pertinax, Harlequin Ladybird +43 more · last seen 2026
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km16 signed routes nearby · 31 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Weardale WayWalking route124 km▾
Named routeLength 124 kmRegional walking route
Cuddy's CorseWalking route12 km▾
Named routeLength 12 kmPoint-to-pointLocal 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
Waugh's Waypublic footpath · 61 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 61 mPath type: footway
Waugh's Waypublic footpath · 108 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 108 mPath type: footway
31 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Beamish LoopCycling route11 km▾
Named routeRef CDN6Length 11 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
Great North CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 725National Cycle Network
Link RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Station to Riverside GroundCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Great North CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 725National Cycle Network
Route 7Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 7National Cycle Network
Photos
Chester-le-Street: in Riverside Park
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
38,145 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
38,145 records · National Biodiversity NetworkDipper · Grey Heron · Tufted Duck · Black-headed Gull · Moorhen +25
- DipperCinclus cinclus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- LapwingVanellus vanellus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
🐸Amphibians2 species
winter
2025▾
Common Toad · Common Frog
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects11 species
winterspringsummer
2026▾
Banded Demoiselle · Western Conifer Seed Bug · 7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Syrphus +6
- Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2025
- Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- SyrphusSyrphus2025
🌿Plants53 species
springsummer
2026▾
Giant Hogweed · Tansy · Garlic Mustard · Musk-mallow · Hard Shield-fern +48
- Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2025
- TansyTanacetum vulgare2025
- Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
- Musk-mallowMalva moschata2025
- Hard Shield-fernPolystichum aculeatum
- Dog's Mercury
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
38,145 records · National Biodiversity NetworkDipper · Grey Heron · Tufted Duck · Black-headed Gull · Moorhen +25
- DipperCinclus cinclus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- LapwingVanellus vanellus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
🐸Amphibians2 species
winter
2025▾
Common Toad · Common Frog
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects11 species
winterspringsummer
2026▾
Banded Demoiselle · Western Conifer Seed Bug · 7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Syrphus +6
- Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2025
- Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- SyrphusSyrphus2025
🌿Plants53 species
springsummer
2026▾
Giant Hogweed · Tansy · Garlic Mustard · Musk-mallow · Hard Shield-fern +48
- Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2025
- TansyTanacetum vulgare2025
- Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
- Musk-mallowMalva moschata2025
- Hard Shield-fernPolystichum aculeatum
- Dog's Mercury
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Orange Ladybird
Orange Ladybird
Halyzia sedecimguttata
Halyzia sedecimguttata
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata202510-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2025Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2025Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea202522-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata202522-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2025Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2025Mercurialis perennis
Mercurialis perennis
SnowdropGalanthus nivalisSnowdropGalanthus nivalisRed CampionSilene dioica2025Red CampionSilene dioica2025Black NightshadeSolanum nigrum2025Black NightshadeSolanum nigrum2025Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025Caucasian LimeTilia cordata x dasystyla = T. x euchlora2025Caucasian LimeTilia cordata x dasystyla = T. x euchlora2025Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare2025Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare2025Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2025Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2025Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2025Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2025Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosaWood AnemoneAnemone nemorosaRamsonsAllium ursinumRamsonsAllium ursinumLesser CelandineFicaria vernaLesser CelandineFicaria vernaGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaWood-sorrelOxalis acetosellaWood-sorrelOxalis acetosellaOpposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifoliumOpposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifoliumHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumGround-ivyGlechoma hederaceaGround-ivyGlechoma hederaceaSpear ThistleCirsium vulgare2025Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2025BlackthornPrunus spinosa2025BlackthornPrunus spinosa2025RedshankPersicaria maculosa2025RedshankPersicaria maculosa2025Yellow LoosestrifeLysimachia vulgaris2025Yellow LoosestrifeLysimachia vulgaris2025Yellow Bristle-grassSetaria pumila2025Yellow Bristle-grassSetaria pumila2025AgrimonyAgrimonia eupatoria2025AgrimonyAgrimonia eupatoria2025Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia2025Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia2025SoapwortSaponaria officinalis2025SoapwortSaponaria officinalis2025Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrata2025Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrata2025Water BentPolypogon viridis2025Water BentPolypogon viridis2025Epilobium ciliatum x montanum = E. x interjectumEpilobium ciliatum x montanum = E. x interjectum2025Epilobium ciliatum x montanum = E. x interjectumEpilobium ciliatum x montanum = E. x interjectum2025Wild CarrotDaucus carota subsp. carota2025Wild CarrotDaucus carota subsp. carota2025Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes2025Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes2025Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2025Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2025Adria BellflowerCampanula portenschlagiana2025Adria BellflowerCampanula portenschlagiana2025Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2025Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2025RapeBrassica napus2025RapeBrassica napus2025Creeping Yellow-cressRorippa sylvestris2025Creeping Yellow-cressRorippa sylvestris2025Clustered DockRumex conglomeratus2025Clustered DockRumex conglomeratus2025Common BentAgrostis capillaris2025Common BentAgrostis capillaris2025Common SorrelRumex acetosa subsp. acetosa2025Common SorrelRumex acetosa subsp. acetosa2025BindweedCalystegia2025BindweedCalystegia2025HonestyLunaria annua2025HonestyLunaria annua2025French Crane's-billGeranium endressii2025French Crane's-billGeranium endressii2025Bush VetchVicia sepium2025Bush VetchVicia sepium2025HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025Hairy TareErvilia hirsuta2025Hairy TareErvilia hirsuta2025White Dead-nettleLamium album2025White Dead-nettleLamium album2025Wych ElmUlmus glabra2025Wych ElmUlmus glabra2025CrosswortCruciata laevipes2025CrosswortCruciata laevipes2025ButterburPetasites hybridus2025ButterburPetasites hybridus2025