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Thornley Crossings Picnic Area

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome

Getting here

54.74753, -1.38291

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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
  • 🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Parking· Paid

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Chaffinch, Robin, Woodpigeon +39 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Chaffinch, Robin, Woodpigeon +39 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Northern Marsh-orchid, Groundsel, Lesser Trefoil +112 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Northern Marsh-orchid, Groundsel, Lesser Trefoil +112 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Plants — Hogweed, Hawthorn, Beech +12 more foraging species

Varies

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Cycling

Named cycling route nearby: NCN 1 Tees to Tyne

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Durham Coastal PathWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
King Charles III England Coast Path: North Gare to South BentsWalking route
Named routeRef England Coast PathNational walking route
Squirrel TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Yew Tree TrailWalking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Way of LoveWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

47 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 14Cycling route
Named routeRef 14National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 5Cycling route
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
Peterlee to Shotton CollieryCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Peterlee to NCR1Cycling route2.8 km
Named routeLength 2.8 kmLocal cycle route
Peterlee to WingateCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Peterlee to HaswellCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Vandalised picnic site, Shotton Colliery

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Vandalised picnic site, Shotton Colliery

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦THE CASTLE, CASTLE EDENHistoric site3.2 km→🌱Wood House ParkUrban park2.5 km→🦉GORE BURNNature reserve2.2 km→🦉WINGATE QUARRYNature reserve3.1 km→🌱Welfare ParkUrban park4.7 km→🌱Woodhouse ParkUrban park2.4 km→

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