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Hamsterley Forest Visitor Centre

(Average user rating 5 unrated

4.1/5)

The Visitor Centre houses displays on forest wildlife and management. There is also a small gift shop, tea room and playpark. It is also the starting point of the scenic four mile forest drive that runs through the heart of the forest giving access to the numerous picnic sites along the way. A Discovery Pass is available to buy which gives free parking all year plus other benfits.

Wood n Wheels bike hire is open Friday-Sunday inclusive.

How to get there:

Hamsterley Forest Visitor Centre is in Hamsterley.

Turn right in Hamsterley village following the brown tourist signs, turn left in hamlet of Bedburn to enter the forest and access the forest drive and car parks (GBP 3 toll fee)

Hamsterley, Witton-le Wear, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, and Durham are the nearest towns or villages.

OS Grid Reference: NZ091312
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

Postcode DL13 3NL (for satnav purposes)

What's on in Hamsterley

February

Monthly Club Ride
Sunday 12 February 2012
Sunday 11 March 2012
Sunday 8 April 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Sunday 8 July 2012
Sunday 12 August 2012
Sunday 14 October 2012
Sunday 11 November 2012
Sunday 9 December 2012
Sunday 13 May 2012
Trailbuilding Session
Saturday 18 February 2012
Saturday 17 March 2012
Saturday 14 April 2012
Saturday 19 May 2012
Saturday 16 June 2012
Saturday 14 July 2012
Saturday 18 August 2012
Saturday 15 September 2012
Saturday 20 October 2012
Saturday 17 November 2012
Saturday 15 December 2012

March

Monthly Club Ride
Sunday 12 February 2012
Sunday 11 March 2012
Sunday 8 April 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Sunday 8 July 2012
Sunday 12 August 2012
Sunday 14 October 2012
Sunday 11 November 2012
Sunday 9 December 2012
Sunday 13 May 2012
Trailbuilding Session
Saturday 18 February 2012
Saturday 17 March 2012
Saturday 14 April 2012
Saturday 19 May 2012
Saturday 16 June 2012
Saturday 14 July 2012
Saturday 18 August 2012
Saturday 15 September 2012
Saturday 20 October 2012
Saturday 17 November 2012
Saturday 15 December 2012

April

Monthly Club Ride
Sunday 12 February 2012
Sunday 11 March 2012
Sunday 8 April 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Sunday 8 July 2012
Sunday 12 August 2012
Sunday 14 October 2012
Sunday 11 November 2012
Sunday 9 December 2012
Sunday 13 May 2012
Trailbuilding Session
Saturday 18 February 2012
Saturday 17 March 2012
Saturday 14 April 2012
Saturday 19 May 2012
Saturday 16 June 2012
Saturday 14 July 2012
Saturday 18 August 2012
Saturday 15 September 2012
Saturday 20 October 2012
Saturday 17 November 2012
Saturday 15 December 2012
Easter Trail
Sunday 1 April 2012 to Sunday 15 April 2012
Deer Watch
Saturday 14 April 2012

View all events

User Comments

I am enquiring as to whether or not the forest has educational officers who can work with groups of school children. Thank you

Anne Dockray, 27/Jan/2012

5 Stars
Took two kids aged 7 and 10 on the blue cycle route. All three of us loved it, paths were clearly signed and well maintained. A few hill but nothing to put of a 7 year old. The downhill at the end is well worth the climb. Wet and muddy = great kids day out

paul, 5/Jan/2012

5 Stars
First time in hamsterley. First time on a red trail. Flippin awesome. The long climb was well worth the reward. Loved it. Very muddy inplaces. Other riders were really friendly and helpful, pointing me in the right direction.

Kevsy, 5/Nov/2011

More user comments

Please tell us about your visit

Please email us at neil.taylor@forestry.gsi.gov.uk if you have an enquiry or would like a reply to your comments.

Facilities and Activities

A wide range of gifts and souvenirs are on sale in the shop including pottery, woodware and novelty items.

Small tea room providing quality home cooked meals,cakes and preserves. Able to cater for large groups and birthday parties on request.

Close by is the adventure play area which is accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. The centre is the starting point for most of the forest trails, including three walks and three cycle routes.

Yellow Walk (Bedburn)
Orange Walk (Bedburn)
Whisky Gill Walk
Spurlswood Valley Walk
Riverside Footpath (Bedburn)

Blue Cycle Trail
Red Cycle Trail
'The Loop' MTB skills area
Grove Link Cycle Trail
Black Cycle Trail

Blue Horse Route
Brown Route (Horse)

Toll Road
Hamsterley Forest Drive

The ranger service is available to take guided educational visits for all levels and ages. Contact the visitor centre for details.

Permanent orienteering course with 28 control points available for educational use via a booking system. Maps are on sale in the shop priced at �1-25.

Four cycle routes catering for different ability levels, from short family trails to a severe black route for the experienced cyclist. A 20 mile trailquest course takes in the whole forest allowing keen cyclists to test their map reading skills. There is a new Down-hill mountain bike course run by local riders and the site manager with an annual membership required to use the site.

Contact:

Neil Taylor
Ranger
01388 488312
e-mail: neil.taylor@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Hamsterley visitor centre will re-open on 1 April 2012. Hamsterley Tea Room is open at weekends Jan-March. The forest drive and car parks are open as normal.Parking and Forest Drive access is £3 per car (£5 on Bank Holiday weekends) or an annual 'Discovery Pass' can be bought which allows free parking for a year.