Plessey Woods Country Park & visitor centre

Plessey Woods Country Park is located near Hartford Bridge, off the A192, mid-way between Bedlington and Cramlington and about five miles south of Morpeth.

The park offers 100 acres of woodland, meadow and riverside to explore. The woodland is home to many birds, such as the great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and tree creeper, as well as animals including the red squirrel, roe deer and fox. The banks of the River Blyth are also an important habitat for wildlife, such as kingfishers, dippers and otters.

A visitor centre and cafe, toilets, children's play area and parking are all available for visitors. It’s a great location for a family day out to walk, play, explore, and picnic.

If you are visiting with a large group and/or have any special requirements, please contact the park in advance:
Telephone: 01670 824793
Email: plesseywoods@northumberland.gov.uk

The park is open throughout the year during daylight hours.

Drone use
Launching drones from County Council land is only allowed with the consent of the Council and where a formal license agreement has been signed. The council reserves the right to refuse consent and where consent is granted will require evidence of your Civil Aviation Training Certificate and public liability insurance.

People have visited Plessey Woods for generations to enjoy the woods and the river. Known locally as Bluebell Woods, the country park is an ideal place for a family day out with great opportunities for getting close to nature.

Take a tour around Plessey Woods

The park lies between Bedlington and Cramlington, five miles south of Morpeth. It is situated near the A1 and A189, providing easy access from Newcastle and south-east Northumberland.

Plessey Woods Country Park
Shields Road
Plessey, Nr Bedlington
Northumberland
NE22 6HZ

Parking
Parking is available at the main entrance by the visitor centre. The following parking charges apply:

First hour - free
Up to two hours - £2
Over two hours - £4
An annual permit is also available for regular visitors at a cost of £50. Annual permits run from 1 July to 30 June each year.

Parking is free for Blue Badge holders, this is the case whether parked in a disabled bay or not, please display your Blue Badge.

Please click here for more information about parking permits

The park gates are open to vehicles during daylight hours. Please ensure that your vehicle is removed from the car park by the closing time stated on the car park notices.

Public transport
Hartford Bridge/Hall and Shields Road Bus Stop, a short distance from the park, are the closest bus stops to the park. There are direct buses to these stops from Morpeth and Newcastle.

Find out about bus services to the area by visiting Arriva North East

The visitor centre and cafe lie at the entrance of the park. It's a great place to start or finish your visit to the country park.

The cafe provides a great place to enjoy hot or cold meals and drinks. It’s perfect on a hot summer's day or a frosty winter morning.

A range of books, maps, local information and gifts are also available from the visitor centre shop. Find out more about the park, trails, and local area at the visitor centre.

The cafe overlooks the newly refurbished children's play area and picnic area - ideal for a family day out.

Opening Times:

	Term time	School Holidays/Bank Holiday
Monday	Closed	10:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday	Closed	10:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday	10.00am - 4.00pm	10:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday	10.00am - 4.00pm	10:00am - 4:00pm
Friday	10.00am - 4.00pm	10:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday	10.00am - 4.00pm	10:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday	10.00am - 4.00pm	10:00am - 4:00pm

Subject to Weather and Change.

The public toilets and disabled toilet are adjoined to the visitor centre and are open during daylight hours.

Enjoy a scenic riverside walk or take a path deep into the woodland, learning more about the park as you follow our many trails.

A self-guided orienteering route and maps are also available from the visitor centre. Whilst exploring the park, look out for the many woodland sculptures and hidden treasures.

A full circuit of the park is about 1½ miles (2.5km) and includes some steep steps and grassy paths. Fully-accessible surfaced paths run from the visitor centre through the woods to the river, although steep gradients along the riverside are difficult for wheelchairs.

Seats and picnic benches can be found throughout the park. There is no public vehicle access to the riverside.

There is an extensive public rights of way network connecting the park to the wider countryside and Bedlington Country Park, also managed by the County Council.

Horse riders and cyclists can use the bridleways within the park. Off-trail riding is not allowed.

The park is a fantastic place to walk dogs - please be considerate of other park users, wildlife and nearby livestock. Bins are provided outside the visitor centre.

Educational visits for schools and groups are very popular and can be arranged with a member of staff. For large groups or requirement of special arrangements, please contact a member of staff in advance.

Organised groups, such as Scouts and Guides, can overnight camp in the park which must be booked in advance with staff. Camping is otherwise not permitted.

Fishing is allowed on the river by permit and is controlled and administered by the Bedlington and Blagdon Angling Association. Details are available from the visitor centre.

Plessey Woods Country Park Shields Road Plessey, Nr Bedlington Northumberland NE22 6HZ

Telephone: 01670 824793
Email: plesseywoods@northumberland.gov.uk

To help us better improve our parks and have your say, please fill out our visitor survey form.

Click here for our visitor survey form