Exploring the further reaches of Gibside | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

North East

Wonders of Nature trail at Gibside

Explore woodlands, meadows, wetlands and along the riverside. You'll see nature at work and, if you are lucky, spot some wildlife at play.

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Total steps: 13

Start point

Market Place, Gibside, Tyne & Wear NE16 6BG. Grid ref: NZ171583.

Step 1

After ascending the wooden walkway from Visitor Reception, find the start of the trail beside the estate map. Go straight ahead with the Walled Garden wall on your left and café straight ahead.

Step 2

At the doorway to the Walled Garden, take a left turn and head through the door. The path leads you straight through the middle of the garden, passing apple trees and vegetable plots. The end of the path leads to large wooden gates.

Step 3

Out of the Walled Garden turn right and head towards the Avenue and when you reach it, turn left. Follow the road with the Avenue on your right and Orangery field on your left. Continue past this field which becomes a section of woodland. Just after the wood ends, another field appears, turn left at this point, following the edge of the woodland and into the wood itself.

The Avenue trees

The Avenue stretches for about half a mile and is home to over 200 trees including common lime, sycamore and various oak species. Squirrels are often seen scurrying from tree to tree, and these trees also provide a home to birds such as the jay. There are also holes in several of the trees that are nest sites for smaller song birds. Listen out in spring for a constant chirping (the chicks demanding food) and see if you can spot the parents returning to the hole to feed them.

Step 4

As you enter the woodland, carefully walk down the steps and follow the steep path that takes you to the bottom of the dene. The path bends to the left where it emerges onto a grassy clearing that's the site of the historic bath house (only stone foundations can be seen today), and turns back on itself to take you alongside the river.

Step 5

Continue along the path that slowly starts to descend to the riverside. It's a roughly surfaced path with some steeper slopes than others. The trail follows the river, so ignore any paths that join the trail from the right. There are several benches along this stretch, so have a seat and see what wildlife shows up at the river and in the meadow (known as Lady Haugh) behind you. The path eventually turns away from the river, cuts across the end of the meadow and heads back up into the woodland where it joins one of the forestry roads. Take a right at this point.

The River Derwent, a haven for wildlife

This tranquil area is the ideal place to watch for kingfishers flashing past or diving for fish, dippers bobbing among the rocks, herons poised to strike, fish jumping in the water or if you’re really lucky, see otters in the River Derwent, one of the best rivers in the UK for seeing otters. Look up, too, to see red kites or buzzard soaring above, watch for roe deer grazing in the meadow, or small tortoiseshell or peacock butterflies flying across the meadow grasses.

Step 6

Follow the track as it starts to head uphill through the woods. Pass the steep trail to your left that is signposted for the Column, and continue up to the Lily Pond, with the Column to Liberty towering above you. The track emerges from the woodland with a clearing and a dip in the landscape on your right (the Hollow Walk). If you look across the Hollow Walk, you can see the Avenue leading along to the Chapel. Behind you is a small path leading from the track back into the woods, signposted for the Column. Head up this path.

Lily Pond

Look into the water of the pond, and among the reeds and water plants you'll spot pond skaters, water boatmen and, depending on the time of year, tadpoles, frogs or newts. Great crested newts also live here, one reason why this pond and the surrounding woodland of Snipes Dene, are classed as a Site of Special Scientific interest. Due to this SSSI status, only Gibside's conservation team can pond-dip here. In summer, watch out for damselflies and dragonflies.

Step 7

The path winds its way through the trees, eventually emerging in a clearing, home to the Column to Liberty. Take a moment to admire this grand tower and its surrounding glades, before continuing back on the trail, with the Column to your left, re-enter the woodland and at the junction, turn right. The path weaves through more conifer woodland, and soon with a field (Brick Kiln Field) on your right. At the next junction, turn left and you will begin to see some of the slopes that have been felled of their trees. The trail gets quite steep at this point as it drops downhill, so take your time, then it levels out to pass the coal mine entrance on your right. Continue straight ahead and when the path forks, take the right-hand path that starts to head back uphill, and joins another of the forestry roads.

Woodland and bats

Much of this woodland is dark due to the pines, larch and, in places, western hemlock, growing so close together. Glades have been cleared, leading away from the Column, to re-establish grass and other meadow species. These clearings also increase the amount of woodland edge which is ideal for insects. These in turn attract bats to feed on them. There are six bat species found at Gibside, all protected. Try and spot bats feeding in these glades or along the paths at dusk.

Step 8

Turn right and begin the walk up to the top of Snipes Dene. The track gets a bit steeper in places, but heads upwards for just over half a mile, with established woodland on your left, and cleared areas on your left. There are several benches on this stretch. Keep looking across the cleared areas to spot deer or foxes in the undergrowth. At the top of the hill, the track bends round to the right and heads back down along the other side of Snipes Dene. Continue on this track, passing a track junction on your left, and see your first glimpse of the Octagon Pond at the bottom of the hill in front of you.

Managing conifer woodland

The Forestry Commission owns much of the woodland, and planted lots of fast-growing conifers. After their harvest, the area is managed by the National Trust. Young trees grow in tree guards, so that native deciduous trees can thrive and create a better habitat for native wildlife. More light will reach the woodland floor, creating ideal conditions for ground flora. Snipes Dene looks a little bare now, but will soon be thriving with a wider range of plants and animals.

Step 9

The track bends to the right, passing the Octagon Pond on your left, however, before continuing to follow the waymarked trail, you can take the path on your right, back into the woodland, to visit the bird hide which is just along the path on your left. You can also get a better look at the Octagon Pond and head onto the grass on your left. Once you are ready to continue, return to the track. Ignoring the right-hand track going down the hill, walk straight along, passing straight over the T-junction, seeing the stables on your right.

Bird life at the hide and Octagon Pond

Stop at the bird hide for a closer look at great tits, blue tits, nuthatches, but you could also see a great spotted woodpecker, or a pheasant or even a mouse feeding on the ground. Back at the Octagon Pond, there are coots, mallards and tufted ducks, but you might also see a little grebe: you’ll hear a ‘witch’s cackle’ and see a small diving bird disappear for a couple of minutes. In summer, dragonflies zoom over the reeds, and a roe deer might stray out of the woods.

Step 10

You could stop at the Stables to grab a drink from the Carriage House Coffee Shop or use the toilet. To continue on the trail, head straight up the hill, with the Stables behind you, passing the Woodland Bothy on your right. A little further up on your left, spot the site of the historic sawmill. Continue up the hill.

Step 11

Head straight up the hill and see Park Fields through the trees on your right. A large wooden bat hangs from the trees over the track at the top of the hill. Keep going, passing across the T-junction, staying on the level. Just past this junction is the den-building area. Continue straight on and follow the track as it winds through the woods.

Habitat piles & shelters

Along the edges of this stretch of woodland are several piles of wood. Some are there naturally, and others have been created by the Rangers to provide homes for insects, amphibians and small mammals. Please don't pull them apart as you could be destroying an animal's home. If you have children with you, you could stop at the den-building site and build your own shelter. You could do this as a pretend home for yourself or create a small one for a mouse or a fox.

Step 12

Follow the track until you reach a finger post that directs you down a path into the woods (signposted to the Low Ropes Course). Continue down the path, stopping at the Low Ropes Course if you feel like a quick challenge, reaching the bottom of West Wood. Cross over the bottom of the T-junction, and take a path on your right heading up the slope and signed for Strawberry Castle Play Area. The path leads you around the edge of the fields, and passes into the play area.

Step 13

Walk through the play area, and continue around to the right with the woods on your left and fields on your right. The path winds along the edge of the wood and brings you out at the end of the Avenue, behind the Chapel and back to Market Place.

End point

Market Place, Gibside, Tyne & Wear NE16 6BG. Grid ref: NZ171583.

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