Nature reserves

The nature reserves vary from woodland to grassland, heathland to coastal, so whichever habitats you are interested in, there is somewhere to visit.

Where can I visit? 

Countryside sites on a map

See our countryside sites on a map.

Nature reserves in County Durham

Name of nature reserve	Location (link opens a location map in our GIS system)	Downloadable leaflet
Aykley Wood	northeast of County Hall, on A691 Durham City
Blackhall Rocks	off A1086, southeast of Blackhall Colliery	Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve (PDF, 1.9mb)
Bracken Hill	south of Bracken Hill Industrial Estate, Shotton Colliery	Bracken Hill Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.2mb)
Chapman's Well	on A6076, southeast of Annfield Plain	Chapman's Well Nature Reserve (PDF, 6.1mb)
Chester Moor	off A167, east of Chester Moor
Cong Burn Wood	north of Waldridge village
Coxhoe Quarry Wood	northeast of Coxhoe	Coxhoe Quarry Wood Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.2mb)
Crimdon Dunes	off A1086, south of Blackhall Colliery
Crowtrees	west of Quarrington Hill	Crowtrees Nature Reserve (PDF, 1.8mb)
Daisy Hill	on Edmondsley to Waldridge road, east of Edmondsley	Daisy Hill Nature Reserve (PDF, 3.0mb)
Egglesburn Wood	west of Eggleston	Egglesburn Wood Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.5mb)
Ferryhill Carrs	east of Ferryhill
Greencroft Heath	off A693, south of Annfield Plain	Greencroft Heath Nature Reserve (PDF, 1.9mb)
Hayberries	southwest of Eggleston	Hayberries Nature Reserve (PDF, 1.8mb)
Horden Grassland	east of Horden Industrial Estate	Horden Grasslands Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.2mb)
Kingswood	south of Quarrington Hill	Kingswood Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.2mb)
Limekiln Gill	behind Cotsford Park Estate, southeast of Horden	Limekiln Gill Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.4mb)
Littlewood	on B6291, northeast of Quarrington Hill	Littlewood Nature Reserve (PDF, 1.8mb)
Low Newton Junction	east of Newton Hall	Low Newton Junction Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.8mb)
Noses Point	off A182, south of Dawdon
Pity Me Carrs	east of Pity Me	Pity Me Carrs Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.5mb)
Tanfield Lea Marsh	north of Tanfield Lea Industrial Estate
Willington Wood	north of Willington
Wingate Quarry	on B1278, west of Wingate	Wingate Quarry Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.2mb)
Witton Dene	off A691, south of Witton Gilbert	Witton Dene Nature Reserve (PDF, 2.2mb)

More information

• Visit our countryside
• Country parks
• Picnic areas
• Railway paths
• Countryside events and guided walks
• Support your local environment by becoming a countryside volunteer.

There are designated barbecue areas at both Hardwick Park and Wharton Park. Unauthorised fires and barbecues are not permitted on any other of our countryside sites. 

Other sources of information

• Public Rights of Way
• Durham Wildlife Trust
• Durham Heritage Coast
• Natural England
• Accessible Countryside for Everyone (ACE) (wheelchairs, pushchairs and buggies)