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Places you can visit in the North East without a car

A family walks towards the red and white striped tower and white buildings of Souter Lighthouse on a winter's day
Plan a car-free visit to places in the North East | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Whether you’re looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot, there are many places in the North East that you can visit without a car.

Check before you travel

Public transport services can change at short notice so please check the most up-to-date timetables with the bus/train companies before you travel.

Allen Banks and Staward Gorge
Stagecoach’s 685 bus service between Carlisle and Newcastle will drop you 1/2 mile (14 min walk) from Allen Banks. Allen Banks is approx. 2.5 miles (11 min cycle) off Hadrian's Cycleway (NCN72) and 2 miles from Bardon Mill train station, where you can complete your journey by bus or bike.Plan your visit
Cherryburn
Go North East’s 10 Tyne Valley bus service between Newcastle and Hexham stops approx. 1/4 mile (8 min walk) away from Cherryburn. Stocksfield train station is 2 miles away and Prudhoe train station is 1.5 miles away and you can complete your journey by bus, bike or on foot.Plan your visit
Cragside
Hop on Arriva’s X14 bus service between Newcastle and Thropton (via Morpeth) to visit Cragside by bus - the bus will drop you at the main entrance.Plan your visit
Crook Hall Gardens
A short stroll from Durham city centre (15 mins from the Cathedral), you can also catch Cathedral Bus 40a from the Cathedral, which will drop you approx. 1/4 mile (6 min walk) from Crook Hall Gardens. If you're arriving by train, it's just a 1/2 mile (10-12 min) walk or 1 mile (4 min) bike ride from Durham train station.Plan your visit
Gibside
For a scenic journey, follow the Derwent Walk Railway Path between Swalwell and Consett, which passes 1/4 mile away, or pedal along mostly traffic paths on National Cycling Route 14 (NCN14), which passes 1/2 mile away. There are also frequent buses from Newcastle or Gateshead, which stop 1/2 mile (15 min walk) away, or travel by train to MetroCentre (5 miles away) or Newcastle (8 miles away) and complete your journey by bus or bike.Plan your visit
Visitors walking at Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort, Northumberland
Walking along Hadrian's Wall Path | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort
Housesteads Fort is on the Hadrian's Wall Path and approx.15 min walk off the Pennine Way. It's also 1.6 miles (10 mins cycle) off Hadrian's Cycleway (NCN72). For a more leisurely way to travel, Go North East’s AD122 Hadrian's Wall Country bus service between Hexham and Haltwhistle stops at the Fort. Or you can travel by train to Hexham (13 miles away) or Haltwhistle (8 miles away) and choose bike or bus to complete your journey.Plan your visit
Lindisfarne Castle
Border Buses’ 477 service from Berwick-upon-Tweed stops in the village on Holy Island, while Arriva’s X15 and X18 services between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed stop at Beal, with local services going on to Holy Island, including Travelsure’s H1 service on selected dates May–October. The Coast to Castles Cycle Route (NCN1) passes through Beal, approx. 4.5 miles/20 mins cycle from the village on Holy Island. You can also travel by train to Berwick-upon-Tweed (14 miles away) then complete your journey by bus.Plan your visit
Ormesby Hall
There are frequent bus services from Middlesbrough bus station stopping a short walk from Ormesby Hall, and National Cycle Route 65 (NCN65) passes 2.5 miles (13 min cycle) away. Marton train station is 1.5 miles (15 min walk) away while Middlesbrough train station (4 miles away) is a bus or bike ride away.Plan your visit
Seaton Delaval Hall
Bus services between Newcastle and Blyth stop near Seaton Delaval Hall, with Arriva’s X7 stopping outside the Hall and Go North East’s 309 and Arriva’s 308 services stopping 1/2 mile away in Seaton Sluice. The Hall is 1/2 mile off the Coast and Castles Cycle Route (NCN1) or you can get the Metro to West Monkseaton station, which is 3 miles (23 min cycle) away.Plan your visit
Male mountain biker in black, background blurred
Take in the countryside on your journey | © Emma Wagner
Souter Lighthouse
For an active way to arrive, the England Coast Path and National Cycle Route 1 (NCN1) both run past the lighthouse. Stagecoach’s E1 and E2 bus services between South Shields and Sunderland stop nearby - E1 at the top of the lighthouse drive and E2 a 10 min walk away. You could also take the Shields Ferry across the River Tyne to South Shields or take the Metro to one of the 3 stops nearby (Seaburn 3.5 miles away, South Shields 4 miles away and East Boldon 5 miles away) and then continue your journey by bike or bus.Plan your visit
Wallington
Go North East’s X75 bus service between Newcastle and Wallington runs on Saturdays between 6 May and 4 November 2023 and stops in Wallington’s car park.Plan your visit
Washington Old Hall
Buses from Newcastle and County Durham stop approx. 1.2 miles (25 min walk) away from Washington Old Hall, while services from Gateshead stop a 2 min walk away. National Cycle Route 7 (NCN7) passes 1.5 miles (6 min cycle away) or you can take the train to Newcastle station or the Metro to Heworth station and continue your journey by bus or bike.Plan your visit
Lindisfarne Castle seen from the sea, with the remains of wooden posts rising from the sea visible

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