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Nature reserves


Come and visit our nature reserves! We have a number of reserves across County Durham, which are ideal places to visit for watching birds, butterflies and a variety of other wildlife.

The nature reserves vary from woodland to grassland, heathland to coastal, so whichever habitats you are interested in, there is somewhere to visit.

Where can I visit? 

Nature reserves in County Durham
Name of nature reserveLocation (link opens a location map in our GIS system)Downloadable leaflet
Aykley Woodnortheast of County Hall, on A691 Durham City 
Blackhall Rocksoff A1086, southeast of Blackhall Colliery Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve (PDF) [1MB]
Bracken Hillsouth of Bracken Hill Industrial Estate, Shotton Colliery Bracken Hill Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Chapman's Wellon A6076, southeast of Annfield Plain Chapman's Well Nature Reserve (PDF) [6MB]
Chester Mooroff A167, east of Chester Moor 
Cong Burn Woodnorth of Waldridge village 
Coxhoe Quarry Woodnortheast of Coxhoe Coxhoe Quarry Wood Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Crimdon Dunesoff A1086, south of Blackhall Colliery 
Crowtreeswest of Quarrington Hill Crowtrees Nature Reserve (PDF) [1MB]
Daisy Hillon Edmondsley to Waldridge road, east of Edmondsley Daisy Hill Nature Reserve (PDF) [3MB]
Egglesburn Woodwest of Eggleston Egglesburn Wood Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Ferryhill Carrseast of Ferryhill 
Greencroft Heathoff A693, south of Annfield Plain Greencroft Heath Nature Reserve (PDF) [1MB]
Hayberriessouthwest of Eggleston Hayberries Nature Reserve (PDF) [1MB]
Horden Grasslandeast of Horden Industrial Estate 
Kingswoodsouth of Quarrington Hill Kingswood Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Limekiln Gillbehind Cotsford Park Estate, southeast of Horden Limekiln Gill Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Littlewoodon B6291, northeast of Quarrington Hill Littlewood Nature Reserve (PDF) [1MB]
Low Newton Junctioneast of Newton Hall Low Newton Junction Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Noses Pointoff A182, south of Dawdon 
Pity Me Carrseast of Pity Me Pity Me Carrs Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Tanfield Lea Marshnorth of Tanfield Lea Industrial Estate 
Willington Woodnorth of Willington 
Wingate Quarryon B1278, west of Wingate Wingate Quarry Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]
Witton Deneoff A691, south of Witton Gilbert Witton Dene Nature Reserve (PDF) [2MB]

More information

There are designated barbecue areas at both Hardwick Park and Wharton Park. Unauthorised fires and barbecues are not permitted on any other of our countryside sites. 

Other sources of information



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