Gateshead Birders

Derwent Walk Country Park

A large country park in the lower Derwent Valley, with a wide range of different habitats for birds and undoubtedly the best single birdwatching site in the borough. Access is via the Thornley Woodlands Centre, grid reference NZ178604, off the A694, or the Swalwell Visitor Centre, grid reference NZ198620, off the A69. The country park encompasses large areas of ancient oak woodland, coniferous plantations, riverside and meadows, and there is a wetland area and a winter feeding station with observation hides (keys available from Thornley Woodlands Centre 01207 545212).

A wide variety of woodland birds can be seen, all of the typical species are present, with the addition of many others. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch are common, Green Woodpecker are less so but still regularly noted. Sparrowhawk and Kestrel are present throughout the year, and in summer the Country Park is alive with the song of summer visitors. Garden Warblers and Blackcap are common in the woods, and Wood Warbler is present in Thornley Wood. Both Pied Flycatcher and Redstart have bred, but they are mainly passage visitors. Along the R.Derwent Kingfisher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail are commonly seen, with occasional Common Sandpiper during the summer. The Far Pasture wetland attracts a variety of water loving species including passage wading birds, wildfowl and Herons. A particular attraction during the wintertime is the Thornley Woods bird feeding station which allows people to see at close quarters species such as Nuthatch and Woodpeckers.

The ancient woodlands of the Derwent Valley hold a wide variety of wildlife - carpets of springtime wood anemones and celandines, many birds including green and great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and sparrowhawk and the occasional glimpse of animals such as, fox, badger and roe deer. The flowers found in the hay meadows support butterflies like the common blue and meadow brown. The Derwent Walk is home to blackcap and whitethroat, heard singing in summer, and bullfinches and flocks of siskins seen feeding in the winter. The wildlife population also includes owls, bats, woodpeckers, swans, ducks and squirrels.

The Swalwell Visitor Centre is built on the site of an old iron/steel forge which was powered by water from the River Derwent. The power for the mill came from a race, which drew water from the weir at Dam Head. The weir known as "The Lady's Steps", was a popular picnic spot in Victorian times. Part of the mill race can still be seen in Swalwell Village, but most of it has been covered over. The Derwent Valley Railway was opened in 1867 after three years' hard building work. Four viaducts were constructed and a deep, 800 metres long cutting was dug near Rowlands Gill. Stations were built at Shotley Bridge, Ebchester, High Westwood, Lintz Green, Rowlands Gill and Swalwell. At its peak the railway was carrying over half a million passengers a year with a regular goods traffic of timber, bricks and coal to Newcastle and iron ore to Consett. As road traffic became more efficient the service declined until the line finally closed in 1962. The railway is commemorated in the Geordie folk song about an ill-fated train journey from Rowlands Gill, "Wor Nanny's a Mazer". Nearby, the Nine Arches Viaduct was one of the major engineering feats of the railway. It is five hundred feet long and was built because the Earl of Strathmore would not allow the railway to pass through the Gibside Estate.

The Derwent Walk Country Park and Derwenthaugh Park are an enchanting mixture of natural woodlands, meadows, wetlands, riverside and reclaimed industrial sites and former railway line. The adjacent Derwenthaugh Park Grid Ref. NZ186609 is a reclaimed and landscaped site with lake, riverside path, reedbed and recently planted woodland.Following extensive reclamation works. Derwenthaugh Park was created on the site of the former Derwenthaugh Cokeworks that closed in 1986. The Derwent walk itself runs 11 miles between Swalwell and Consett along the route of the former railway line and allows cyclists, horseriders, walkers and wheelchair users to discover this popular area. Footpaths provide links to Thornley Woodlands Centre.

The Swalwell Visitor Centre - at the Swalwell end of the Derwent Walk. Toilets, parking and information are available. From the Centre there is direct access for cyclists and horse riders to the Derwent Walk and the Derwenthaugh Park multi-user route. Lobby and toilets open daily depending on staff availability. The information room is open at weekends and spring and summer Bank Holidays between 12 noon and 2pm.

Click for map

Site List