Nine Nature Spots You Can’t Miss on the Northern Saints Trails

Discover the amazing flora and fauna in the North East as you walk the Northern Saints Trails. Use this guide to find out what you can see and where to go on the walking route:

The Way of the Sea

Hauxley Widlife Discovery Centre and Reserve

Nature abounds at this fantastic reserve. There’s a variety of birds to see, from tree sparrow, curlew and bull finch, to reed bunting, coot and moorhen. You may even get the chance to spot red squirrels, stoats and otters. During the summer, you can see amazing flowers, including viper’s bugloss, bloody cranesbill and northern marsh orchid. Take a close look because they attract butterflies such as the common blue and wall brown.

Address: Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and Reserve, Hauxley Ln, Low Hauxley, Northumberland NE65 0JR

Coquet Island

On your walk, admire the view of this island, which is a dedicated seabird reserve. Home to 40,000 breeding seabirds, it is the only place in the UK where roseate terns breed. Puffins, known as, ‘sea parrots’ due to their colourful bills also visit. You can’t set foot on the island but you can see the remarkable creatures on a boat trip.

Address: 1 mile offshore from Amble, Amble, Northumberland NE65 0DQ

The Angel’s Way

Jesmond Dene

This historic park is both very peaceful and picturesque. It is a narrow, wooded valley, which follows the river Ouseburn between South Gosforth and Jesmond Vale. There’s a combination of both native and exotic trees and plenty of wildlife, such as the kingfisher and red squirrel. You will be in awe of the beautiful waterfall.

Address: Jesmond Dene, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DZ



The Way of Light

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

Enter the glorious gardens because you have to see the spectacular rhododendrons, which bloom over summer. There’s a lovely rose garden to explore too, which commemorates the Ushaw students that fought and died in World War One. Stroll by animal carvings designed by the award-winning sculptor Tommy Craggs.

Address: Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, Ushaw Moor, Durham City DH7 9RH

The Way of Learning

Roker

You could be lucky enough to see dolphins on your journey as they are often seen off the coast of Roker. Keep your eyes peeled and bring some binoculars to get an even better view. Dolphins are social mammals which swim together, hunt together and protect each other. A group of dolphins is known as a pod.

Address: Roker Pier, Sunderland SR6 0PL

Cleadon Hills Local Nature Reserve (Windmill Field)

This beautiful trail location, where Cleadon Windmill stands, is of national importance because of the wildflowers. They grow here due to the shallow magnesian limestone soil. During the spring, violets appear, then yellow rockrose and the purple-flowered wild thyme, which scents the air as you walk by it. Next to arrive are the sweetly fragrant ladies bedstraw and the harebell. 

Address: Cleadon Hills Local Nature Reserve, Cleadon Hills Pathway, South Shields NE34 8DZ

The Way of Love

Spion Kop Cemetery Local Nature Reserve

Take a pause on your walk at this tranquil spot by the coast. The cemetery was designed by architect John Dobson in 1856 and made from sand dune and ship ballast. It was created to replace the churchyard of St Hilda’s. The area is a species-rich dune grassland, some of the flora you can see includes pyramidal orchid and thrift. Skylark can be spotted and come with beady eyes to see moss snail.

Address: Spion Kop Cemetery Local Nature Reserve, Hartlepool TS24 0BP

Cassop Vale National Nature Reserve

On this trail, you will come across another wonderful nature reserve. It is considered as one of the best magnesium limestone grassland areas in Durham. The lime-rich soils are the result of the site being a tropical sea around 250 million years ago. The place also has a lake, wetland, woodland and scrub. Some of the species found in this area include fragrant orchid, cowslip, rockrose and the northern brown argus butterfly. 

Some parts have restricted access so check before you visit.

Address: Cassop Vale Nature Reserve, Cassop, County Durham DH6 4RE

The Way of Life

Auckland Castle Deer Park

As well as plenty of intriguing features from an old ice house to an Obelisk, this park is full of animal life. Listen and look for green woodpeckers. Kingfishers are often amongst the trees by the meandering River Gaunless and Trevor Bridge is another key location. To get a glimpse of otters, it is best to come early in the day as they are nocturnal.

Address: Auckland Castle Deer Park, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NR
 

For more ways to enjoy nature, make sure you check out the Gardens & Parks.