Newcastle is one of the most green cities in the UK when comparing land area to population size. There are countless park across Newcastle and North Tyneside that make up the acres of green space Newcastle’s boasts. But which one is worth a visit? Read on to discover my top 5 parks in Newcastle, as a park lover myself and seasoned dog walker I pride myself on my park knowledge.
Exhibition Park by Cartridge Save A Day in the Life
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5) Exhibition Park
At the top of Claremont Road, just past Newcastle University campus, you’ll find the gates to this charming park. I still can’t get over how central it is to town yet you could walk around it for hours because it’s connected to the town moors. It’s the perfect lunch hour escape from inner city to green oasis. The park has a cafe, lake, skateparks, tennis and basketball courts and playgrounds. On top of all this, Exhibition Park is also home to the grade 2 listed Wylam Brewery; an event space, kitchen and micro-brewery. Their Sunday roast is must-have!
Best season to visit: Summer. The Hoppings fun fair is on the town moors in June and is always worth a visit, even if you’re not a rollercoaster person and hook-a-duck is more your speed. Nothing compares to an afternoon in the Hoppings then retiring to Exhibition Park to have an ice cream and a sun bathe.
Heaton Park, by Abby Spicer.
4) Heaton Park
This pleasant little park is unexpectedly located in… Heaton. This park is connected to Ouseburn park and Armstrong Park and can be accessed through Heaton, Jesmond and Sandyford. With a network of paths and benches, Heaton Park is ideal for both dog walks and picnickers. The park boasts tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, an Italian restaurant Sambuccas in the centre as well as the infamous shoe tree (if you know you know, if you don’t, look it up!). This park is full of character and history with even the ruins of a 12th century castle remaining within the park. Heaton Park really is the centre of the area’s tight-knit community.
Best season to visit: Hmm now this is a tricky one. Winter is great because, relying on it snowing, Heaton park has one of the best sledging hills. But the feeling of warm sun on your face while you dine on Fanta and potato skins on the steps of Sambuccas is hard to beat.
Richard Dees Park 09, by John Hudson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
3) Richard Dees Park
Our first North Tyneside entry on the list! Richard Dees is located in Wallsend and is around 14 acres of land. This victorian park is very well kept and has an abundance of facilities. For example, it has a skatepark, outdoor gym, duck pond, basketball and tennis courts, a cafe, bowling green and a playground that even temps me – I mean it’s got a zip wire and everything come on! This gem of Wallsend is a hub of activity, you’ll always find a friendly dog walker to chat too or a seasonal event on. In the summers, they’ve had movies playing with popcorn and hot-dogs available to buy and in the winters, choirs have sang carols in the bandstand.
Best season to visit: Spring. The flower beds are beautifully well-kept and have such an impressive range of colours. It’s always worth stopping to smell the roses at Richard Dees park.
Perspective Walk by Warren Woodhouse. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
2) Rising Sun Country Park
Coming in as runner up, the Rising Sun Country Park is the perfect wildlife haven. This park spans a whopping 162 hectares across Benton and Wallsend with multiple different access points. This park really does have something for everyone, you can go for the concrete paths and a trip to the cafe or off-road it and trek into the extensive woodland and grassland. This park is called home by a range of wildlife such as rabbits, foxes, bats and deer. The sheer size of this park secured it’s spot high on my list, being in the depths of this green space and looking out onto rolling hills it’s hard to believe you’re in the suburbs of a bustling city.
Best season to visit: Autumn. This time of year is often more quiet so you’ve got more of a chance to spy out some of the stunning wildlife the Rising Sun has to offer.
Jesmond Dene, by Abby Spicer.
1) Jesmond Dene
Newcastle’s pride and joy, where else could possibly take my number one spot? From Pet’s corner, the visitors centre, the cafe and playgrounds to the stunning walkways alongside the Ouseburn and the iconic waterfall near the Old Mill, Jesmond Dene has it all. It acts as the central hub of Newcastle’s huge green pathway, connecting Armstrong Park, Heaton Park and Paddy Freeman’s Park.
Best season to visit: All year round! With a hot chocolate in hand and a dusting of snow, visiting Jesmond Dene in the winter is like stepping into Narnia. In spring, the banks are bursting with colour and live – you’ve just got to see it! A shady summer walk next to the river is just what you need in the hot summer months too. And my personal favourite, is when all the trees mature into their orange and yellow tones for autumn. Jesmond Dene is a masterful work of art.
