4.1/5)About Hamsterley
2000 hectares of mixed woodland lying between the Wear and Tees valleys on the edge of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hamsterley is a delightful oasis of broadleaved and coniferous woodland, sprawling along the sides of a sheltered valley. Visitors to Hamsterley have no shortage of options when it comes to activities. With waymarked walks, bike hire, cycle routes and horse riding trails, all levels of fitness and ability are catered for. Follow all that exercise with a snack or slice of lovely homemade cake in our tearoom and a browse around the gift shop and visitor centre.There is also a playpark which is now open. A Discovery Pass is available to buy which gives free parking all year round plus other benefits.
Hamsterley Forest is one of County Durham's most popular visitor destinations. To ensure that this continues, the Forestry Commission has commissioned a report from independent consultants on the status and potential of Hamsterley Forest for visitors. Read more.
Wood n Wheels bike hire is open daily from the 31st March 2012
How to get there:
Hamsterley, Witton-Le Wear, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, and Durham are the nearest towns or villages.
Hamsterley Forest sits wedged between Teesdale and Weardale in the heart of beautiful Durham Dales, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of Bishop Auckland.
By Public Transport
The forest is not served directly by public transport services. The nearest village on a bus route is Hamsterley, two miles to the south of the forest entrance. The walk from the forest to Hamsterley village is on a public road with no designated pedestrian walkway. From the village, you can travel on service number 88 (Arriva) to Bishop Auckland bus station, a journey that takes roughly 20 minutes. Bishop Auckland has a railway station that connects with the East Coast mainline at Darlington.
By car
The forest is signposted off the A68, north of West Auckland. Cars are charged £3 each (£5 on bank holiday weekends) on the Forest Drive to access the Forest and it’s facilities. Minibuses are charged at £8 each and coaches £12. There is no charge for visitors on foot.
OS Grid Reference: NZ091312
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info
Start your visit from:
Hamsterley Forest Visitor CentreWhat's on in Hamsterley
June
- 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 - Family Bushcrafts Monday 9 April 2012
Sunday 17 June 2012
Sunday 19 August 2012 - Female Evening Ride Monday 16 April 2012
Monday 30 April 2012
Monday 14 May 2012
Monday 28 May 2012
Monday 11 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Monday 9 July 2012
Monday 23 July 2012
Monday 6 August 2012
Monday 20 August 2012
Monday 10 September 2012 - An introduction to willow weaving Sunday 24 June 2012
July
- 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 - Female Evening Ride Monday 16 April 2012
Monday 30 April 2012
Monday 14 May 2012
Monday 28 May 2012
Monday 11 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Monday 9 July 2012
Monday 23 July 2012
Monday 6 August 2012
Monday 20 August 2012
Monday 10 September 2012 - Become Nature Detectives; find the hidden wildlife Sunday 8 July 2012
- Discover the secret life of the forest Sunday 22 July 2012
- Den Building Tuesday 24 July 2012
Wednesday 22 August 2012
August
- 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 - Family Bushcrafts Monday 9 April 2012
Sunday 17 June 2012
Sunday 19 August 2012 - Female Evening Ride Monday 16 April 2012
Monday 30 April 2012
Monday 14 May 2012
Monday 28 May 2012
Monday 11 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Monday 9 July 2012
Monday 23 July 2012
Monday 6 August 2012
Monday 20 August 2012
Monday 10 September 2012 - A Forest Adventure Sunday 6 May 2012
Sunday 5 August 2012 - Foraging and Wild Cooking Sunday 20 May 2012
Sunday 19 August 2012 - Den Building Tuesday 24 July 2012
Wednesday 22 August 2012 - Children's Adventure Challenge Wednesday 15 August 2012
Please tell us about your visit
Please email us at enquiries.hamsterley@forestry.gsi.gov.uk if you have an enquiry or would like a reply to your comments.
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