Chopwell Woodland Park - Planning your visit

 

How much does it cost?

A visit to Chopwell Woodland Park is absolutely free!

When is it open?

The Wood never closes and access is available to the main car park 24 hours a day. Please note that neither the access road or car park are lit after dark.

What facilities are there?

To help you enjoy the spectacular woodland, there are three waymarked walks and one waymarked cycle trail. Scattered throughout the wood are picnic tables, benches and a host of fascinating sculptures. An information board in the main car park helps you orientate yourself. For visiting groups, a Forest Classroom is available by pre-booking with the ranger.

How to get there?

Chopwell Woodland Park is located in historic Derwent Valley, 11 miles (17km) from Gateshead and Newcastle City Centres.

By Public Transport: Buses operated by ‘Go Ahead Northeast’ connect the wood with Newcastle City Centre, Newcastle Central Station and the Metrocentre (service numbers 47 and 47A). Visitors from Consett can connect with this bus at Rowlands Gill.

The bus stop for these services is on Hookergate Lane in High Spen, located at the entrance to the road access into the wood. From the bus stop, the trailhead in the main car park is a ten-minute walk along both tarmac road (100 metres) and waymarked forest trail (700 metres).

For full timetable information call the ‘Traveline’ on 0870 6082608 or visit www.travelinenortheast.info for the online journey planner. Timetables are also available on ‘Go Ahead Buses’ website, www.simplygo.com.

By Car: The wood is not signposted until the entrance in the village of High Spen (B6315). Access to the B6315 from the south is off the A694 at Rowlands Gill or from the north at the A695 at Greenside.

Where to Stay?

Accommodation in the Derwent Valley is in short supply. The majority of provision is in the Newcastle-Gateshead area. There is some accommodation in Rowlands Gill (2 miles southeast of the wood), comprising a Bed and Breakfast establishment and a camping and caravan park at Derwent Park. Further along the valley at Allensford there is a second caravan park. The nearest Youth Hostel is at Edmundbyers, 12 miles (20km) to the west near the A68.

The ‘Visit Northumbria’ website has a list of accommodation in the area and runs an online booking service at www.visitnorthumbria.com or call their visitor helpline on 08701 601781. 

Nearest Tourist Information Centres:
Durham   0191 384 3720
Gateshead (Quays)  0191 478 4222
Newcastle   0191 277 8000