Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre

What it’s like

Woodland trails, bird hides and a rubbing-disc trail along the Northumberland coast, free to walk round but £2 to park.

You come here to walk, not to queue. The paths loop through woodland and out along the coast, with a rubbing-disc trail dotted along the way that gets kids hunting for the next one rather than asking how much further it is. Bring binoculars if you've got them, because the bird watching is a proper draw here, not an afterthought bolted onto a gift shop.

Entry's free, which is rare enough for a wildlife spot that it's worth saying twice. You'll pay £2 to park a car though, and that's fair enough for what's on offer. The paths are level and wide, so a buggy copes fine, and there's step-free access into the building itself if you need it.

The Lookout Café does scones, soup and sandwiches, and it's open every day, though hot food stops at half three and it's takeaway cups only after four. The car park locks at half five, so don't plan on lingering past that for a sunset walk. If you're coming as a group of ten or more you'll need to book ahead, and coaches can't get in at all, the car park's too small for them.

One thing worth knowing before you set off: don't trust your sat nav blindly, it can send you into Low Hauxley and along the caravan park's access road instead of the proper route in.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Good for any age that can manage a woodland walk

Last entry

Café hot food stops 15:30 (takeaway cups from 16:00), car park locked 17:30

Booking

Groups of 10 or more must book ahead

Parking

Cars £2, Mini bus £5, Coach £10, on-site car park

Food

The Lookout Café serves snacks, hot and cold refreshments, freshly brewed coffee, daily-baked scones, cakes, biscuits, sandwiches

Wheelchairs

Accessible car park, level and wide paths, ramped/level entrances, accessible toilet

• Parking is £2 for a car, £5 for a minibus, £10 for a coach, though coaches aren't actually allowed in.
• Café hours run 10am to 4.30pm daily, separate from the site's own opening times.
• There's wifi on site if you need to check anything mid-walk.
• Groups of ten or more must book ahead before turning up.

Plan your visit

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