Where to go birding in Northumberland: 35 places, on a map
All 35 sites. Filter by area, habitat or the bird you're after, sort by distance from where you are, and tap a pin for parking, toilets and tide notes.
The site finder
Area
Habitat
Want
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Farne Islands (boats from Seahouses)
Seahouses · NE68 7RQ · best
The big one. Around 200,000 seabirds nest here from May to July, about 43,000 pairs of them puffins, and on Inner Farne the boardwalk runs straight through the tern colony, which is where you find out what the soft hat was for.
Tip. Buy the National Trust landing ticket at the trailer on the harbour before you sail, book the boat ahead in summer, and have a plan B, because landings are cancelled when the sea is up.
The practical bits
- Access
- Boat trips only, from Seahouses harbour: Billy Shiel's, Golden Gate and Serenity. Landings on Inner Farne from April to September; book the boat ahead
- Parking
- Pay and display in Seahouses (not National Trust). Council Station Yard car park: 1 hour free, 2 hours £5.50, 3 hours £7, all day £10.50, charges 8am to 6pm. Car parks fill quickly
- Hides
- None; the Inner Farne boardwalk takes you through the colony
- Toilets
- Limited toilets on Inner Farne; public toilets next to the main car park in Seahouses
- Cafe
- None on the islands; picnic benches near the lighthouse on Inner Farne
- Dogs
- No dogs on the islands, including assistance dogs; some boat operators let dogs wait on board
- Step-free
- Inner Farne has a boardwalk, but boarding and landing involve steps and jetties; ask the boat company about access
- Cost
- Boat fare plus the National Trust landing fee. 2026: May to July adult £17, child (5 to 17) £8.50, family £42.50; April, August and September adult £13, child £6.50, family £32.50. Members land free
- Best time
- May to July for puffins and terns; autumn for grey seal pups
- Tides
- Not tide dependent, but sailings and landings depend on the weather and sea state
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Coquet Island (by boat from Amble)
Amble · best
The UK's only breeding roseate terns, plus thousands of puffins and three other kinds of tern, on an RSPB island that nobody lands on. You go round it in an hour on the Puffin Cruises boat from Amble.
Tip. Ring Puffin Cruises to book (07752 861914), bring binoculars for everyone because the boat keeps its distance from the island, and go between mid May and July.
The practical bits
- Access
- No landing. One-hour cruises round the island from the dock steps at Amble harbour, late spring and summer, weather permitting
- Parking
- In Amble (charges not checked)
- Hides
- None
- Step-free
- No; boarding is from the dock steps
- Cost
- Boat fare; prices are not published online, so ask when you book
- Best time
- Mid May to July for puffins and terns; roseate terns mid May to early September
- Tides
- Sailings depend on the weather and sea state
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Lindisfarne NNR and Holy Island
Holy Island · best
Winter is the point: light-bellied brent geese from Svalbard, wigeon, grey plovers and godwits on the flats, and in autumn an easterly can drop migrants into the hedges along the Straight Lonnen. The tide runs the whole day.
Tip. Check the council's safe crossing times before anything else and plan round them. The Paul Greenwood hide on the Lough is open at all times, and check boots and the dog for pirri-pirri bur before you leave.
The practical bits
- Access
- By the tidal causeway from Beal, only within the council's published safe crossing times. The walking route over the sands is for daylight, with local knowledge, never on a rising tide
- Parking
- Chare Ends car park on the island (council): 3 hours £7, 4 hours £8, 5 hours £9, 24 hours £10.50, charges 8am to 6pm; Green Lane car park is free for Blue Badge holders
- Hides
- The Paul Greenwood memorial hide overlooks the Lough
- Cafe
- In Holy Island village
- Step-free
- Not published; expect sand, grass and dune paths away from the village
- Cost
- Free (parking charges apply)
- Best time
- October to March for geese, wildfowl and waders; September and October for migrants after easterly winds
- Tides
- The causeway floods twice a day. Use only the council's safe crossing times (holyislandcrossingtimes.northumberland.gov.uk), allow 30 minutes extra in high winds, and never drive into water
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Budle Bay
Bamburgh · best
A mile-wide tidal bay you can bird from the car: shelduck, curlew, redshank and little egret on the mud, and merlins and peregrines hunting over it in winter. Good for anyone who has had enough of walking.
Tip. Watch from the white railings along the Bamburgh to Waren Mill road rather than going down onto the shore, and come nearer high tide for sea duck, grebes and divers.
The practical bits
- Access
- Roadside viewing along the Bamburgh to Waren Mill road
- Parking
- Roadside pull-ins along the road
- Hides
- None; the car works as one
- Step-free
- Yes, from the roadside or the car
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Winter for wildfowl and raptors; waders all year
- Tides
- Birds are far out at low tide; high tide brings sea duck, grebes and divers closer
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Bamburgh and Harkess Rocks (Stag Rocks)
Bamburgh · best
The rocks by the lighthouse with the white stag painted on them are the best spot in the county for purple sandpipers, and in winter you seawatch across to the Farnes with the castle at your back.
Tip. Walk down The Wynding past the houses (the golf club car park is private), come between January and March, and hold small hands on the wet rocks; big waves wash right over.
The practical bits
- Access
- Along The Wynding from Bamburgh village towards the golf club; the rocks are by the lighthouse
- Parking
- Roadside on The Wynding past the houses, or the council's Bamburgh village car park (3 hours £7, all day £10.50, 8am to 6pm). The golf club car park is private
- Hides
- None
- Toilets
- In Bamburgh village
- Cafe
- In Bamburgh village
- Step-free
- Partly: you can scan the sea from the roadside, but the rocks are uneven and slippery
- Cost
- Free (parking charges in the village)
- Best time
- January to March for purple sandpipers, sea duck, divers and grebes
- Tides
- Waves can break over the promontory in heavy weather; keep well back in a big sea
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Seahouses harbour
Seahouses · NE68 7RQ · best
Ten minutes with the binoculars before the Farne boat: eiders close in, purple sandpipers and turnstones on the rocks and walls, and sometimes goldeneye in winter.
Tip. Winter is best for the harbour birds and the boats are quiet. Station Yard is the council car park with the first hour free, and the toilets are by the main car park.
The practical bits
- Access
- In the village; the Farne Islands boats leave from the harbour
- Parking
- Council Station Yard car park: 1 hour free, 2 hours £5.50, 3 hours £7, all day £10.50, charges 8am to 6pm. Limited parking on the harbour
- Hides
- None
- Toilets
- Public toilets next to the main car park
- Cafe
- Plenty in the village
- Step-free
- Harbourside viewing from the quay
- Cost
- Free (parking charges apply)
- Best time
- October to April for eiders, purple sandpipers and the chance of a white-winged gull
- Tides
- Not critical for the harbour birds
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Beadnell Bay and the Long Nanny tern colony
Beadnell · best
Around 2,000 Arctic terns and a few very rare little terns nesting on the open beach, guarded day and night by National Trust rangers from May to July. In winter the dunes and burn mouth get snow buntings and twite.
Tip. It's about a mile's walk from Beadnell or High Newton. Head for the rangers' hut and viewing platform, and keep dogs on a short lead near the ropes from May to July.
The practical bits
- Access
- Walk about a mile along the beach and dunes from Beadnell or High Newton-by-the-Sea to the footbridge over the Long Nanny burn
- Parking
- Council car parks at Beadnell (1 hour free, 3 hours £7, all day £9.50) and Newton Steads (1 hour £3.30, all day £9.50); free council car park at High Newton
- Hides
- No hide; a National Trust rangers' hut and small viewing platform in the breeding season
- Dogs
- On short leads near the Long Nanny in the breeding season (May to July)
- Step-free
- No; sand and dune paths
- Cost
- Free (parking charges apply)
- Best time
- May to July for the tern colony; November to February for snow buntings, twite and raptors
- Tides
- The colony is on the upper beach; keep to the signed route and off roped areas at every state of the tide
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Low Newton and Newton Pool
Low Newton-by-the-Sea · NE66 3EW · best
A small National Trust pool behind the dunes with a hide, avocets and marsh harriers breeding according to the bird club, and a habit of attracting rarities far beyond its size.
Tip. An all-ability path runs from the village to the hide, which has a ramp. Pair it with the Long Nanny terns in June, and check the rocks for purple sandpipers in winter.
The practical bits
- Access
- Short walk from Low Newton-by-the-Sea to the pool and hide
- Parking
- Council car parks at Low Newton (1 hour £3.30, 2 hours £5.50, all day £9.50, 8am to 6pm) and High Newton (free)
- Hides
- National Trust hide overlooking Newton Pool, with a ramp
- Dogs
- Allowed on the National Trust links; short leads near nesting birds in May to July
- Step-free
- All-ability path to the hide, which has a ramp
- Cost
- Free (parking charges apply)
- Best time
- April and May for breeding birds and warblers; September to February for migrants, wildfowl and sea duck
- Tides
- Not needed for the pool
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Craster, the Arnold Reserve and Dunstanburgh
Craster · NE66 3TW · best
A tiny quarry wood beside the Craster car park that catches tired migrants in spring and autumn, then the cliffs at Dunstanburgh with the county's biggest mainland kittiwake colony.
Tip. The car park takes coins and the phone signal for PayByPhone is weak, so bring change. Come after easterly winds for migrants, and May to July for the kittiwakes, about 1.3 miles along the coast path.
The practical bits
- Access
- Next to the main car park at the entrance to Craster, through the opening by the tourist information building; kissing gates at the southern end; open all the time
- Parking
- Council car park in Craster: 1 hour £3.30, 2 hours £5.50, 3 hours £7, all day £9.50, 8am to 6pm
- Hides
- None
- Dogs
- On a lead
- Step-free
- The route through the reserve from the car park is level and well surfaced; the southern kissing gates are harder
- Cost
- Free (parking charges apply)
- Best time
- May, September and October for migrants; May to July for the Dunstanburgh kittiwakes
- Tides
- Not needed
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Boulmer
Boulmer · best
A tiny fishing village whose seaweedy shore pulls in waders all autumn and winter, with purple sandpipers, twite and short-eared owls, and a greater sand plover in July 2024, just to show off.
Tip. The council's Beach View car park is 1 pound for two hours, the best deal on this coast. Come on a rising tide, then check the rough grass north of the village.
The practical bits
- Access
- Minor road north from the Alnmouth roundabout, then right at the first T-junction
- Parking
- Council Beach View car park: 2 hours £1, 3 hours £1.50, all day £3, charges 8am to 6pm
- Hides
- None
- Cafe
- The Fishing Boat Inn
- Step-free
- Views over the bay from the village and car park; the shore is rocky
- Cost
- Free (parking charges apply)
- Best time
- August to October for passage waders; winter for purple sandpipers, twite and gull roosts
- Tides
- Come on a rising tide for waders
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. No manager page; site guide from The Dipper's Nest (coordinates 55.42158, -1.58310). Greater sand plover (26 July 2024) from BirdGuides. Car park tariff from the council coastal car parks page.
The Aln estuary at Alnmouth
Alnmouth · best
The estuary behind Alnmouth and the Buston Links dunes: an autumn and winter spot for snow buntings, twite, stonechats and the odd kingfisher, and easy to lose a whole morning in.
Tip. Low tide is best, especially at Buston Links. Scan from the bridge over the Aln and check the pools for a kingfisher, then reward everyone at a village cafe.
The practical bits
- Access
- The bridge over the Aln on the road into Alnmouth; Buston Links dunes on the south side down a rough track off the A1068
- Parking
- Cricket club car park in Alnmouth; rough track parking at Buston Links
- Hides
- None
- Cafe
- Pubs, restaurants and a tea room in Alnmouth
- Step-free
- Views from the bridge; dune paths are sandy
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Autumn and winter
- Tides
- Low tide is best, particularly at Buston Links
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. No manager page; guide and coordinates (55.38872, -1.61761) from The Dipper's Nest. The North Northumberland Bird Club lists Alnmouth and Buston Links as localities without detail.
The Coquet estuary at Warkworth
Warkworth · best
Below the castle the Coquet runs out past a tidal channel called the Gut, with little egrets in late summer, stonechats in the dunes and snow buntings on the beach in winter.
Tip. Use the Beach Road car park for the Gut and the dunes. If the bairns are flagging, the castle is right there (English Heritage, paid entry).
The practical bits
- Access
- Beach Road from Warkworth to the beach and the Gut; the Braid picnic area on the Amble bank
- Parking
- Car park on Beach Road, Warkworth (charges not checked); paid parking at the castle
- Hides
- None
- Cafe
- In Warkworth village
- Step-free
- Not published; dune and grass paths
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Late summer for little egrets; autumn for migrants; winter for snow buntings, divers and sea duck
- Tides
- The Gut is tidal; waders feed on the mud when it is exposed
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Amble harbour and the Braid
Amble · best
Where the Coquet Island boat goes from, with eiders in the harbour and the Braid picnic area looking over mud with herons, shelduck and, in late summer, little egrets.
Tip. Look round the harbour for eiders while you wait for the Coquet boat, and NWT Hauxley is only a few minutes down the coast if you want more.
The practical bits
- Access
- Amble harbour on the south bank of the Coquet; the Braid picnic area by the estuary
- Parking
- Town car parks in Amble (charges not checked)
- Hides
- None
- Cafe
- In Amble
- Step-free
- Harbourside viewing; surfaces not checked
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Winter for divers, grebes and sea duck; late summer for little egrets; May to August for the island boats
- Tides
- Waders use the mudflats off the Braid when they are exposed
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Coordinates are the Amble town centroid (ONS), not the harbour itself, which is a short walk north on the Coquet. Eiders from The Dipper's Nest Coquet Island page.
NWT Hauxley
Low Hauxley · NE65 0JR · best
The easiest reserve on the coast with kids: six hides, a cafe, proper toilets, tree sparrows and reed buntings, and a real chance of red squirrels and otters. Around 140 bird species a year.
Tip. The car park locks at 5.30pm and there's a small parking charge. No dogs except assistance dogs, so if the dog's coming, go to East Chevington or Druridge Pools instead.
The practical bits
- Access
- Near Low Hauxley, south of Amble off the A1068; centre and reserve open daily 9am to 5.30pm
- Parking
- On site; small charge. Car park locked at 5.30pm
- Hides
- Six hides, including a members-only hide; two accessible hides
- Toilets
- Yes, including accessible toilets and baby changing
- Cafe
- The Lookout Cafe, daily 10am to 4.30pm (hot food until 3.30pm)
- Dogs
- No dogs except guide and assistance dogs
- Step-free
- Yes, a 1 km accessible route to two accessible hides
- Cost
- Free entry, donations welcome; small parking charge
- Best time
- All year; spring and autumn for passage birds
- Tides
- Not needed for the reserve
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Grid reference NU 285 023 (NWT), converted to coordinates. Shoveler and lapwing from BirdForum Opus Druridge Bay (Opus also lists Bewick's swan and purple sandpiper).
Druridge Pools and Druridge Bay
Cresswell · NE61 5EG · best
Seven miles of sand with a chain of old opencast wetlands behind it. Druridge Pools has wigeon and teal in winter, snipe and little egrets, and otters if you're lucky.
Tip. Park by the National Trust site next door and use the level-access hide, then go to Druridge Bay Country Park for the toilets, the cafe and the lake path.
The practical bits
- Access
- Minor road through Druridge Links, 3 km north of Cresswell; open all the time
- Parking
- Roadside at the adjacent National Trust site. Druridge Bay Country Park (NE61 5BX): first hour free, up to 2 hours £3, over 2 hours £5, Blue Badge free
- Hides
- Two hides (one level access, one up four steps) and a viewing platform up three broad steps
- Toilets
- At Druridge Bay Country Park, 9am to 5pm daily
- Cafe
- At Druridge Bay Country Park
- Dogs
- On a lead
- Step-free
- Partly: level grass paths and one level-access hide, but paths can be wet and muddy
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Spring and autumn for passage birds; winter for wigeon and teal
- Tides
- Not needed; the pools are freshwater
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
East Chevington
Red Row · NE61 5BG · best
The big reedbed reserve behind Druridge Bay: marsh harriers since 2009, bearded tits, wintering bitterns, owls over the grassland and pink-foot skeins going over in spring and autumn.
Tip. Paths are level and wide with a boardwalk, so buggies are fine. The toilets and cafe are at Druridge Bay Country Park, and in winter give it time for the owls.
The practical bits
- Access
- Unclassified road opposite the Red Row turning, or the coast path from Druridge Bay Country Park; open all the time
- Parking
- On site, or at Druridge Bay Country Park (charges apply there)
- Hides
- Several public hides; the locked education hide by the entrance is not open to the public
- Toilets
- At Druridge Bay Country Park
- Cafe
- At Druridge Bay Country Park
- Dogs
- On a lead
- Step-free
- Yes: level, well surfaced paths at least 1 m wide, and a wide boardwalk to a viewing platform
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Spring for marsh harriers and warblers; October to March for bittern, owls, geese and swans
- Tides
- Not needed
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Grid reference NZ 270 990 (NWT), converted to coordinates. All species from the NWT page; habitats from BirdForum Opus Druridge Bay.
Cresswell Pond
Cresswell · NE61 5EH · best
A brackish lagoon behind the dunes where avocets have nested since 2011, with geese and ducks on the water, tree sparrows and barn owls round the edges and waders dropping in on passage.
Tip. Park at the north end, walk 500 metres south along the road to the Blakemoor Farm track, and string it together with Druridge Pools and East Chevington in one morning.
The practical bits
- Access
- Farm track to Blakemoor Farm, about 1 km north of Cresswell; a wide latch gate with two stone steps; open all the time
- Parking
- Car park at the north end of the reserve on the coast side of the road, then a 500 m walk south along the road
- Hides
- One hide, reached by a boardwalk ramp with a handrail
- Dogs
- On a lead
- Step-free
- Mostly: level path 50 to 120 cm wide and a ramp to the hide, but a 500 m road walk from the car park
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Spring and autumn passage; avocets from spring into summer
- Tides
- Not needed
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Grid reference NZ 283 944 (NWT), converted to coordinates. Saltmarsh fringe from BirdForum Opus Druridge Bay.
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Church Point
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea · NE64 6PD · best
A proper patch birder's town. Church Point is one of the best seawatching spots in the county, Mediterranean gulls and purple sandpipers are regulars, and skuas and shearwaters go past in autumn.
Tip. Park free at Church Point and seawatch in an onshore wind, dressed for it. The promenade is flat for buggies, with toilets and a cafe at the Maritime Centre.
The practical bits
- Access
- Church Point is at the north end of the bay; the promenade runs along the front
- Parking
- Church Point car park (council, free); on-street parking in the main street
- Hides
- None
- Toilets
- At the Maritime Centre and behind the town council offices off the main street
- Cafe
- Newbiggin Maritime Centre
- Step-free
- Yes: the promenade is flat with no gradients, and wheelchairs can reach the beach by the lifeboat ramp at the north end
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- August to October for seawatching and migrants; April and May for spring migrants; winter for divers and purple sandpipers
- Tides
- Not critical for seawatching
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
The Tweed estuary at Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed · best
Hundreds of mute swans right in the town, peaking at around 800 according to Destination Tweed, with goldeneye, goosanders and divers in winter.
Tip. Walk the north bank at low tide for waders, then go out to the north pier and Little Beach for divers and sea duck. A telescope helps.
The practical bits
- Access
- Riverside paths along the north bank from the town; the north pier and Little Beach at the river mouth; Spittal Point on the south side
- Parking
- Town car parks in Berwick (charges apply)
- Hides
- None
- Cafe
- In Berwick
- Step-free
- Town riverside paths; surfaces not checked
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- October to March for wildfowl, divers and waders
- Tides
- Low tide for waders on the estuary; the harbour and pier for divers and sea duck
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Kielder Water and Forest Park (and the Kielder ospreys)
Kielder · NE48 1BX · best
The North East's osprey headquarters since 2009, with the Tower Knowe nest camera, crossbills, siskins and goshawks in the conifers, and red squirrels all round.
Tip. Osprey Watch at Tower Knowe runs on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, 11am to 4pm, April to mid August. It's a long drive from anywhere, so take food.
The practical bits
- Access
- Tower Knowe visitor centre at the east end of the lake (NE48 1BX); Kielder Castle (NE48 1ER) and the Bakethin reserve (NE48 1HF) at the north end
- Parking
- Forestry England car parks: up to 1 hour £2.50, all day £6.50; Forest Drive toll (May to December) £5; members free
- Hides
- Osprey Watch cabin with a live nest camera and scopes at Tower Knowe; accessible Bakethin hide run by Northumberland Wildlife Trust
- Toilets
- At Tower Knowe (April to October) and Kielder Waterside
- Cafe
- Tower Knowe cafe at weekends, 11am to 5pm; Kielder Castle cafe closed at the time of writing
- Dogs
- Allowed in the forest park; check any local restrictions
- Step-free
- Tower Knowe has disabled access; Bakethin has easy access walks to an accessible hide
- Cost
- Free entry; parking charges apply
- Best time
- April to mid August for ospreys; red squirrels all year
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Wallington (red squirrels)
Cambo · NE61 4AR · best
A National Trust estate with a feeder hide in West Wood that is one of the regular red squirrel spots, though the Trust is honest that sightings dropped after Storm Arwen.
Tip. It's a paid property with parking included, so make a day of it. Sit still in the hide and give the squirrels time; spring and autumn are best.
The practical bits
- Access
- Cambo, near Morpeth; estate and woods open 10am to 5pm at the time of writing
- Parking
- Free for members; included in the admission price for everyone else
- Hides
- Wildlife hide in West Wood, with feeders
- Toilets
- Yes, including an adapted toilet
- Cafe
- Yes, 10am to 5pm
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Step-free
- Partly: steep slopes, loose gravel and uneven woodland paths; mobility scooters bookable 48 hours ahead
- Cost
- 2026 admission (30 March to 1 November): adult £22, child (5 to 17) £11, family £55, without Gift Aid; National Trust members free
- Best time
- Spring and autumn for red squirrels
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Harthope Valley
Wooler · best
A single road up beside the Harthope Burn under the Cheviot, with dippers on the rocks, ring ouzels, whinchats and common sandpipers, and curlews calling in April and May.
Tip. Park before the Carey Burn bridge, as the National Park asks, walk up beside the burn for the dippers, and watch where you put your feet on warm days (adders).
The practical bits
- Access
- Single-track road from Wooler (via Cheviot Street) up the valley to Langleeford
- Parking
- Free roadside parking before the Carey Burn bridge, and off-road spots near Langleeford
- Hides
- None
- Step-free
- No; grassy banks and rough paths
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- April and May
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Coordinates are the NE71 6RF postcode centroid near the Carey Burn bridge (ONS), so approximate. Songbird and raptor list from The Dipper's Nest Harthope Valley page.
College Valley
Kirknewton · NE71 6TW · best
A private Cheviot valley kept quiet by a car permit system, with merlins, peregrines, ravens, barn owls in the nest boxes and around 150 feral goats, which the kids will rate above any bird.
Tip. Park free at Hethpool and walk or cycle, because you can't drive beyond it without a permit. Dogs on leads at all times.
The practical bits
- Access
- Hethpool, up the College Valley near Kirknewton; no vehicles beyond Hethpool without a permit
- Parking
- Free car park at Hethpool
- Hides
- None
- Dogs
- On leads at all times
- Step-free
- No; estate roads and hill paths
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- March to July for breeding birds; goats all year
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Grindon Lough
Haydon Bridge · NE47 7AE · best
A small lough by the Stanegate that you watch from the car: whooper swans and wild geese in winter, bean and Greenland white-fronted among them, and waders in late summer.
Tip. There's no access onto the reserve. Pull in on the Stanegate west of Newbrough, bring a telescope, and come in winter or in August and September.
The practical bits
- Access
- View from the Stanegate road, 5 km north west of Haydon Bridge; no access onto the reserve
- Parking
- Roadside along the Stanegate, west of Newbrough
- Hides
- None
- Dogs
- On leads
- Step-free
- Yes, viewing from the roadside or the car
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Winter for swans and geese; August and September for waders
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Grid reference NY 806 677 (NWT), converted to coordinates. County Wildlife Site. The Dipper's Nest says NWT has managed it since 1972.
Greenlee Lough and the Wall crags
Once Brewed · best
The biggest of the loughs north of Hadrian's Wall, with a long boardwalk to a hide, winter swans and geese, and peregrines breeding on the Whin Sill crags just to the south.
Tip. It's a proper walk over tussocky, marshy ground from Gibbs Hill or Steel Rigg: wellies, a flask and a telescope.
The practical bits
- Access
- Permissive path south from the public footpath, or the public footpath from the east off the Pennine Way; boardwalk from the north across the reedbed
- Parking
- Small permissive car park at Gibbs Hill (NY 748 692), or Steel Rigg National Park car park (NY 752 676)
- Hides
- One hide, reached by a long boardwalk
- Dogs
- On leads
- Step-free
- No; tussocky, marshy ground
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- October to March for wildfowl; spring into June for peregrines on the crags
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Allen Banks and Staward Gorge
Bardon Mill · NE47 7BP · best
A deep wooded gorge on the River Allen with more than 70 bird species; April and May bring pied flycatchers, redstarts and, with luck, a wood warbler singing over the dippers and grey wagtails.
Tip. Parking has toilets but there's no cafe, and the paths are steep and uneven, so it's a back-carrier walk rather than a buggy one. Go in April or May.
The practical bits
- Access
- Near Ridley Hall, Bardon Mill; open dawn to dusk
- Parking
- £3 for 4 hours, £5 all day (JustPark app); National Trust members free; 3.3 m height limit
- Hides
- None
- Toilets
- Yes, including accessible toilets
- Cafe
- None
- Dogs
- On leads
- Step-free
- No; mostly steep and uneven paths
- Cost
- Free entry; parking charges for non-members
- Best time
- April and May for woodland migrants in song
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Songbirds and river birds from The Dipper's Nest Allen Banks page. Coordinates are the NE47 7BP postcode centroid (ONS).
Bolam Lake
Belsay · NE20 0HE · best
A Georgian lake in a country park with a feeding station and hide by the car park for red squirrels, nuthatches and woodpeckers, and sawbills on the water in winter.
Tip. The mile of path round the lake is fully accessible. The first hour of parking is free, and the cafe is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The practical bits
- Access
- Signposted off the A696 from Belsay, about 9 miles west of Morpeth
- Parking
- Three car parks, 9.30am to sunset: first hour free, up to 2 hours £3, over 2 hours £5; Blue Badge free
- Hides
- Bird hide at the car park feeding station (built 2019)
- Toilets
- At Boathouse Wood car park, 9.30am to 5pm; accessible toilet with a RADAR key
- Cafe
- Next to Boathouse Wood car park; Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday)
- Dogs
- Welcome, kept under control
- Step-free
- Yes: fully accessible path of about 1 mile round the lakeshore
- Cost
- Free entry; parking charges apply
- Best time
- Winter for sawbills and thrush flocks; April and May for song; red squirrels all year
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Plessey Woods Country Park
Bedlington · NE22 6HZ · best
Woods and meadows along the River Blyth, with kingfishers and dippers on the river and woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers in the trees.
Tip. Find a quiet spot by the river and wait for the kingfisher. The visitor centre and cafe are closed on Mondays, and the riverside paths get steep.
The practical bits
- Access
- Shields Road, Plessey, near Bedlington; about five miles south of Morpeth
- Parking
- First hour free, up to 2 hours £3, over 2 hours £5; Blue Badge free
- Hides
- None
- Toilets
- Public and disabled toilets at the visitor centre, open in daylight hours
- Cafe
- Visitor centre cafe: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 3pm (October to March) or 4pm (April to September); weekends 10am to 3.30pm or 4pm; closed Mondays
- Dogs
- Welcome; be considerate of wildlife and livestock
- Step-free
- Partly: surfaced paths from the visitor centre to the river, but steep gradients along the riverside
- Cost
- Free entry; parking charges apply
- Best time
- Spring for song; winter for goosanders and thrush flocks; kingfishers and dippers all year
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Bird list from BirdForum Opus Plessey Woods (grid reference NZ 238 805, converted to coordinates).
Hareshaw Linn
Bellingham · NE48 2DA · best
A woodland walk from Bellingham over six bridges to a nine metre waterfall, with dippers on the burn, redstarts in May, woodpeckers and red squirrels.
Tip. Counting the six bridges keeps small walkers going. The National Park car park has 26 spaces, and May is the month for redstarts.
The practical bits
- Access
- From Bellingham main street take the Otterburn/Redesmouth road and turn left immediately after crossing the stream (about 70 m)
- Parking
- Hareshaw Linn National Park car park: 26 spaces, including 2 disabled and 4 EV charging
- Hides
- None
- Cafe
- In Bellingham
- Step-free
- No; woodland path with six bridges
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- April to June for woodland birds; spring and autumn for red squirrels
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Car park grid reference NY 840 834 (National Park), converted to coordinates. Red squirrel tip from the National Park's red squirrel page.
Thrunton Woods
Rothbury · NE66 4SQ · best
Conifer forest under Thrunton Crag, with crossbills busiest in January and February, goshawks displaying in March and woodcock out at dusk.
Tip. Free parking but no toilets. The Crag Top Walk is about a mile and gets you up high for a scan over the trees for raptors in March.
The practical bits
- Access
- Signposted from the A697 Newcastle to Coldstream road; open 24 hours
- Parking
- Free; no accessible spaces
- Hides
- None
- Toilets
- None
- Cafe
- None; picnic area
- Dogs
- Allowed; assistance dogs welcome
- Step-free
- No
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- January and February for crossbills; March for displaying raptors; spring for song
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Simonside Hills
Rothbury · NE65 7NW · best
The sandstone ridge above Rothbury with the best heather in Northumberland, purple in August, red squirrels in the pines below and curlews nesting on the open moor.
Tip. Dogs must be on a lead on the open moor from 1 March to 31 July. Parking is free, and August is the time for the heather.
The practical bits
- Access
- Forestry England car park near Rothbury (NE65 7NW); open 24 hours. The summit moorland tracks are for walkers only
- Parking
- Free; no accessible spaces
- Hides
- None
- Dogs
- Allowed; on a lead on Open Access moorland from 1 March to 31 July
- Step-free
- No
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Spring for nesting moorland birds; August for heather
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Ford Moss
Ford · TD15 2QA · best
A lowland raised bog near Ford with red grouse, snipe, woodcock and meadow pipits, adders and large heath butterflies, and an old colliery chimney standing over the lot.
Tip. Park on the verge off the B6353 and walk the kilometre in. Keep children close and on the paths, because the bog has deep pools.
The practical bits
- Access
- Main entrance off the B6353, 2 km east of Ford, signposted, then 1 km south; open all the time
- Parking
- Limited grass verge parking at the main entrance
- Hides
- None
- Dogs
- On leads
- Step-free
- No; boggy, uneven paths with two small boardwalks
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Late spring and summer for breeding birds, reptiles and large heath butterflies
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page. Grid reference NT 970 375 (NWT), converted to coordinates. Size 72 hectares. Best months are inferred from the species list; NWT gives no season.
Whittle Dene reservoirs
Harlow Hill · best
Victorian reservoirs by the Military Road, perhaps the county's most reliable site for yellow wagtails, with great crested grebes, common terns on rafts and an osprey passing most years.
Tip. The reservoirs are private, so watch from roads and footpaths. Park on the B6309 towards Stocksfield, never on the Military Road, which is fast and dangerous.
The practical bits
- Access
- View from public roads and footpaths only; the reservoirs are private
- Parking
- Safe parking on the B6309 south towards Stocksfield; do not park on the B6318 Military Road
- Hides
- No public hide confirmed (The Dipper's Nest mentions a hide on the northern reservoir)
- Step-free
- Roadside viewing only
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- April to June
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Derwent Reservoir (Northumberland side)
Blanchland · best
A big reservoir on the Durham border with winter wildfowl, breeding little ringed plovers and common sandpipers, barn owls near the hide and ospreys in summer.
Tip. For the hide, use the lay-by on the minor road north off the B6306 between Blanchland and Edmundbyers. There's no public transport.
The practical bits
- Access
- Minor road north off the B6306 Blanchland to Edmundbyers road for the hide; other access points round the reservoir
- Parking
- Lay-by near the hide; more parking off the B6306 near Edmundbyers
- Hides
- One hide on the north west side, plus a birdwatching platform
- Step-free
- Mixed: paved and unpaved roads, wide paths and narrow trails
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Winter for wildfowl; spring and early summer for breeding waders
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Queen Elizabeth II Country Park
Ashington · NE63 9AT · best
A lake and young woodland in Ashington on what was once one of the biggest colliery spoil heaps in Europe. The council doesn't list its birds, so treat it as a gentle walk with the water birds as a bonus.
Tip. Tarmac and grass paths on the eastern side make it easy going, and dogs are welcome. Winter is the time for wildfowl on the lake.
The practical bits
- Access
- North edge of Ashington between the A197 and the A189; main car park reached from the A189; open all year
- Parking
- Main car park off the A189 (charges not stated)
- Hides
- None
- Dogs
- Welcome
- Step-free
- Tarmac and cut grass paths on the eastern side; accessible fishing platforms
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Winter for wildfowl on the lake
Checked Tuesday 29 September 2026 against this page.
Every entry was checked against the manager's own page on the date shown inside it. If a hide has closed or a car park has started charging, tell us and we will fix it.
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