Hamsterley Forest
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Hamsterley
What it’s like
Forest trails for walking, mountain biking and a Room on the Broom family trail, with free entry and paid parking.
Entry's free and the forest itself does the entertaining: miles of walking trails, mountain bike routes, an adventure play area and a Room on the Broom trail that turns a walk into a proper hunt for themed activities along the way. There's disc golf too if you fancy something different, and horse riding trails if anyone in your group rides.
The Room on the Broom trail is the one to save for the bit where a four or five-year-old starts asking "are we nearly there" less and starts spotting things instead, since it's built as an interactive family trail rather than just a signposted path. Older kids and the adults get the mountain biking and the wider trail network, so a family with a big age gap between them can genuinely split off and both have a decent time.
Parking is where this stops being free. It's banded by how long you stay, from nothing under 20 minutes up to £9 for the whole day, paid by card or the RingGo app, which stings a bit for something advertised as free entry. If you're likely to be regulars, forest membership at £60 a year locally (or £96 nationally) includes free parking and probably pays for itself fast. There's an easy access trail if wheelchairs or buggies need a flatter route, and off-road mobility scooters can be hired on site.
The café is open daily for sit-in or takeaway, dogs are welcome on the trails, and there's a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own lunch and eat it looking at trees instead of a car park. Forest Drive itself runs 9 to 4 on weekdays and 9 to 5 at weekends, so plan your last loop with that in mind.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- £0 under 20 mins, £3.50 up to 1 hour, £6.50 up to 2 hours, £8 up to 4 hours, £9 all day
- Food
- Café open daily with sit-in dining and takeaway
- Wheelchairs
- Easy access trail available. Off-road mobility scooters can be hired
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Worth knowing
- Forest membership (local £60/year or national £96/year) includes free parking
- Parking is charged in bands even though entry itself is free
- The Room on the Broom trail is the one with themed activities built in, not just a walk
- Disc golf and horse riding trails are both on site if you fancy a change from walking or biking
- Forest membership covers free parking if you think you will be back often
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to get in?
Nothing, entry to the forest is free. Parking is what you pay for, banded from free under 20 minutes up to £9 for a full day.
Do we need to book?
No booking mentioned, you just turn up and pay for parking on the day via card or the RingGo app.
Is it OK for a buggy or wheelchair?
There's an easy access trail for a flatter route, and off-road mobility scooters can be hired on site.
What time does it close?
Forest Drive runs 9am to 4pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm at weekends.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The café is open daily for sit-in or takeaway, and there's a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed on the trails.
Is membership worth it?
If you'll visit often, yes, forest membership at £60 a year locally or £96 nationally includes free parking, which otherwise adds up per visit.
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