Description
Discover our picturesque woodlands which sprawl along the sides of a stunning sheltered valley. Escape the hustle and bustle of the everyday at County Durham's largest forest. From wildlife watching to stargazing, and adventure play for all the family to exhilarating mountain biking, there is something to keep everyone busy. If you fancy a peaceful wander through the trees, Hamsterley's extensive network of trails and paths provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore the heart of the forest.
Service options
On-site services
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Activities
Hiking
Amenities
Picnic tables
Public toilet
Slides
Swings
Children
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
Playground
Pets
Dogs allowed
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Reviews
5
Absolutely beautiful place... variety of forest walks of varying lengths, also bike routes of varying difficulty and horse riding trails. Loads of activity areas and parks for kids dotted about. Ample parking, paid. There's cafe, ice cream and toilets near the car park. Great day out in stunning surroundings
5
Great park! Having recently moved to the area, I was looking for a big, adventurous place for my little children, and the Gruffalo Path was amazing with the statues hidden away to find throughout the park kept my toddler moving. My girls loved the walk, and it was pushchair-friendly with lots of hidden playgrounds. A fantastic spot for family outings!
4
Great place for mountain biking or walking. Gets a bit busy at the main visitor area, but it's not difficult to find somewhere peaceful to sit and have a picnic or whatever. Prices at the cafe and ice-cream van are way too expensive however. Parking charges also quite expensive, unless you go often and make use of the annual parking option.
5
Great place for trail running, they have different length loops clearly marked and you can combine them if you want something longer. Take your flip flops and you can dip your feet in the water to cool off after if you go in summer. Although I wasn't with children I saw lots of families enjoying the climbing frames etc. Considering the numbers there when I went I saw very little litter which is fantastic.
5
A beautifully large forest where you can easily spend a full day. There's mountain bike trails for all abilities, or there's flatter areas to ride along the bottom of the forest for younger bikers. There are endless trails that can be walked and areas to be explored. Near the main car park are a number of natural play areas for kids to enjoy. In the summer, there are areas where kids can safely paddle in the river. We particularly enjoy the gruffalo trail, which is the perfect length and level of difficulty for our young children to cycle along. There's a cafe on the main walkway, which also has an outdoor serving area.
4
Good country park. Good for families with plenty of adventure park playgrounds for climbing etc. Good signposted trails of different lengths and abilities. Plus more stretching trails that are more off the beaten track. Some picnic tables on the primary routes. Good for cycling, and walkers. Toilets, snack bar and ice-cream kiosk near the main car park. The car park fee is PS7 for all day, PS2.50 for 1hr, and PS5 for two, all a bit pricey but the facilities and trails are well managed, and you pay at the end so you don't have to guess how long you need. This is more of a country park rather than just an area for walking. (There are of course other free access areas to walk and hike in the area). It is quite busy even during the week, so not suitable if you want to get away from it all for a quiet walk. We managed to find quieter parts that were more natural and peaceful.