There are loads of brilliant scenic walks around the North East. We’ve rounded up 40 walks below that are perfect for families, including sculpture trails and activity walks with plenty of fun surprises to spot and activities to try along the way. Plus most of them are free, so it’s a great way to keep the kids entertained and keep down the cost!
Whether you’re looking for woodland walks, riverside or coastal, popular parks or hidden gems, the walks below have plenty to see and do, including the Gruffalo, Zog, dinosaurs, fairies and more.
Details are subject to change and parking charges may apply, please check the latest updates and opening times directly with organisers using the purple links below.
Forestry England Trail
👟 Gruffalo Sculpture Trail: wooden sculptures of the Gruffalo, the Gruffalo’s Child and the other characters from the favourite Julia Donaldson story.
👟 Zog Activity Trail: family activity trail with free app. Download the ‘Zog: A Forest Adventure’ app before you visit for exciting challenges as you follow the woodland trail and collect virtual golden stars. Activity packs also available, with Zog themed crafts, stickers and trail leaflet.
👉 Free app (Google Play / App Store). Activity pack: £4
📌 Hamsterley Forest, Bedburn, Co Durham, DL13 3NL
📌 Kielder Castle, Northumberland, NE48 1ER
Gateshead Council Activity Walks
👟 Brighten the Day leaflet series, including points of interest, trail maps and fun activities such as scavenger hunts, games and challenges.
👉 Free, download activity leaflets here
📌 Angel of the North & Longacre Wood | Derwent Walk | Gateshead Quays | Oliver Henderson Park | Ryton Willows | Saltwell Park | Wardley Nature Park | Watergate Forest Park | Windy Nook Nature Reserve
High Force Waterfall Sculpture Trail
👟 A circular woodland walk featuring sculptures of woodland creatures and the 21 meter high High Force Waterfall, with a free activity sheet available encouraging children to engage their senses on a magical woodland adventure.
👉 Admission £1.50-£3 pp (under 4s: free). More info here.
📌 Forest-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 0XH
Love Exploring AR Trails
👟 Free app with augmented reality walking games, designed to help families and friends enjoy adventure outdoors. Fun games and guided trails include Dinosaur Safari, Space Walk and Tree Fairies.
👉 Free, more info here
📌 Gateshead: Chase Park, Gibside (National Trust), Riverside Park, Rowlands Gill, Saltwell Park
📌 South Tyneside: Hebburn Riverside Park, River Don, South Shields Sea Front, The Word Riverside, Whitburn
📌 Co Durham: Harwick Park, Preston Park, Wharton Park, Wynyard Woodland Park
📌 Northumberland: Carlise Park
Plessey Woods Sculpture Trail
👟 A range of sculptures and interactive features can be found along the woodland walk. A full circuit of the park is about 1½ miles and includes some steep sections and grassy paths, and self-guided orienteering maps are available from the visitor centre.
👉 Free, more info here
📌 Plessey, Northumberland, NE22 6HZ
South Tyneside Family Discovery Trails
👟 Coastal, riverside and countryside walks ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours, with activities to complete and sights to see along the way.
👉 Free, more info here
📌 Boldon Colliery | Cleadon Hills Windmill & Water Tower | Hebburn Riverside | Jarrow River Don | Sandhaven Seafront | Temple Park | Whitburn Coastal Park & Souter
Sunderland Sculpture Trail
👟 An easy riverside walk along the River Wear to Roker beach on the final part of the C2C (Coast to Coast cycle path), with 13 sculptures bringing together Sunderland’s past and present.
👉 Free, more info here
📌 St Peter’s Wharf, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Teessaurus Sculpture Park
👟 A 10 acre park with huge colour models of a T-rex, stegosaurus, triceratops, brontosaurus and more, on the banks of the River Tees just outside of Stockton, County Durham. Scan the QR codes on the displays to access three free digital trails, to bring the dinosaurs to life and complete a dino quiz.
👉 Free, more info here
📌 Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, TS2 1QE
Thornley Woods Sculpture Trail
👟 An easy woodland walk with various animal carvings to spot along the yellow waymarked route. Follow the trail from the Thornley Woods Visitor Centre on a half mile route, with no steps but an undulating gradient. Pick up a free ‘Rowlands Quest’ family activity leaflet from the visitor centre.
👉 Free, more info here
📌 Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, NE39 1AU
For more walking games, activities and printable scavenger hunts to help make family walks more fun wherever you’re headed, click here.
There’s plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy, check here for more ideas and info for playgroups, classes and fun days out from tots to teens!
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