Hamsterley Forest Drive

(Average user rating 3 unrated

3/5)

Recently voted one of the country’s top scenic woodland drives, Hamsterley Forest Drive is a spectacular 4 mile (6 km) route that winds its way up Bedburn Valley following the energetic streams that tumble off the North Pennines. There are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way to explore the forest or to have a picnic. The Forest Drive starts at the visitor centre and ends at Blackling Hole Car Park. Cars can either exit the forest at this point or retrace their journey back to the visitor centre. Please note that the Forest Drive is only tarmac for approximately half of its length. The remaining two miles from just beyond the Grove Car Park to Blackling Hole is on unsealed forest road. The drive for its entire length is not gritted in winter and may be closed in adverse weather. The Forest Drive is a toll road, for which tickets can be purchased on entry to the forest at the visitor centre and the Grove (ticket is also valid for all car parks). Discovery Pass available to purchase from the visitor centre which allows unlimited free access to Hamsterley car parks and forest drive for 2009. For further information, please contact Neil Taylor on 01388 488312.Open 8am to 5pm.

Click here to find out what else you can do in this forest.

How to get there:

Hamsterley Forest Drive can be started from Hamsterley Forest Visitor Centre in Hamsterley. Hamsterley, Witton-le Wear, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, and Durham are the nearest towns or villages.

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)

OS Grid Reference: NZ092312
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

What's on in Hamsterley

February

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

3 Stars
A lovely drive with some nice parking places (5 stars for this) but poor access to tea room for disabled visitors as long very steep steps or long walk to get there - some disabled parking needed!! Also, disabled space at toilets was almost the furthest bay from the toilet - strange planning!! Finally, accessible toilets are always at a premium anyway but to leave them unlocked so anyone can use them is poor planning especially when the whole drive and parking area only seems to have one accessible toilet. Radar keys are easily available to the disabled and accessible toilets should be locked to make them available to us more when we need them as we don't have the options the able bodied have!.

Norman Grieve, 25/Apr/2011