Gosforth Nature Reserve
BEST FOR
Ages 0-16
ENTRY
from £1
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Gosforth
What it’s like
Wildlife hides and quiet boardwalk trails through a Newcastle nature reserve, with a pound entry for kids.
This is a proper slow-down kind of visit. You wander the boardwalks and woodland paths, duck into one of the three wildlife hides, and see what turns up on the water or in the reeds. There's a viewing screen too, and a nature library at the Field Studies Room if the kids want to look something up while they warm their hands round a hot chocolate from the honesty café.
It suits a wide age range, up to about 16, but younger children will get the most from it if you're happy to go at their pace rather than yours. There's no play equipment here, no gift shop nonsense, just paths and hides and whatever wildlife happens to be about, which is either exactly what you want or a hard sell to a bored eight-year-old.
Entry is genuinely cheap, a pound for a child and £5.50 for an adult with Gift Aid, so this is one of the cheapest proper days out going. Non-members can visit 9am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. Parking's free right outside the entrance, though the site itself admits it's not brilliantly signposted, so keep an eye out or you'll drive straight past it.
Worth knowing before you set off: the ground is genuinely uneven in places, with slopes and damp patches through the woodland, and the reserve does sometimes close in strong winds for safety. The boardwalk to Ridley Hide and the Lawrence Hide are both accessible, which covers the best bit of the walk if a pushchair or wheelchair is involved.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Quiet nature spotting with kids up to about 16
- Last entry
- 3pm for non-members (one hour before 4pm closing)
- Parking
- Free car parking outside the reserve entrance or on Gosforth Park Way
- Wheelchairs
- Partly accessible with accessible boardwalk to Ridley Hide and accessible Lawrence Hide
- Getting there by bus or train
- Nearest bus: BT Call Centre stops on Gosforth Park Way, 10 min walk
- The entrance is easy to drive past, so watch for it near Gosforth Park Way
- Ground is uneven in parts, with slopes and damp patches through the woodland
- If you join as a member the same day, you can put your visitor pass cost towards membership
- Strong winds can shut the reserve for the day, so it's not one for a gale
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£1 for a child, £5.50 for an adult with Gift Aid. Students get in for £2.20 with ID.
Do we need to book?
No, you can just turn up and buy a pass at the gate.
What are the opening hours?
9am to 4pm for non-members, with last entry at 3pm. Christmas Day is shorter, 10am to 3pm with last entry at 2pm.
Is there parking?
Free parking right outside the entrance, or on Gosforth Park Way.
Can you get there by bus or Metro?
The BT Call Centre stops on Gosforth Park Way are about a 10 minute walk away. Longbenton Metro is more like 30 minutes on foot.
Is it OK for a wheelchair or buggy?
Partly. The boardwalk to Ridley Hide and the Lawrence Hide are both accessible, but other paths have slopes, damp patches and uneven ground.
What's there to eat?
There's a honesty café at the Field Studies Room, so bring change.
Is there anywhere to see wildlife up close?
Three wildlife hides and a viewing screen dotted round the reserve, all built for quiet watching rather than getting close.
What if it's windy?
The reserve sometimes closes in strong winds for safety, so it's worth having a backup in your head before you set off.
Is it easy to find?
Not always. The entrance is easy to miss, so keep a close eye once you're near Gosforth Park Way.
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