Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve
Durham Wildlife Trust's headquarters reserve near Houghton-le-Spring, with wetlands, meadows and woodland on a restored opencast mine, bird hides, a play area and a visitor centre with coffee shop.
About Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve
Rainton Meadows is a nature reserve run by Durham Wildlife Trust, just off the A690 between Sunderland and Durham, and is the trust's headquarters. It was created on the site of the former Rye Hill opencast coal mine, restored in 1996, and now covers around 100 hectares of wetland, woodland and wildflower meadow. Joe's Pond, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, lies alongside.
Visitors can follow accessible trails to bird hides overlooking the lakes, and there is a children's play area. Exmoor ponies, cattle and sheep graze parts of the reserve, and dogs are welcome on a lead. The visitor centre, with a coffee shop and gift shop, is open from 10am to 4pm daily, and the vehicle gates open from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Buses stop nearby at Rainton Bridge Business Park.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve.
Houghton Feast: Houghton-le-Spring's October Festival
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Parks and Green Spaces in Sunderland
Sunderland's parks, country parks and nature reserves, from Mowbray Park and Barnes Park in the city to Herrington, Hetton Lyons, Rainton Meadows and the Washington riverside.
Walks in Sunderland: Coast, River and Countryside Routes
Walks in and around Sunderland, from the Roker to Seaburn coast path and the River Wear to Penshaw Monument, Tunstall Hills, Rainton Meadows and the end of the C2C.
Dog-Friendly Sunderland: Beaches, Walks, Pubs and Cafes
A guide to Sunderland with a dog: the summer beach restrictions at Roker and Seaburn, dog walks at Penshaw, Rainton Meadows and the parks, and pubs and cafes that welcome dogs.
More Sports & Leisure in Sunderland
Adventure Sunderland
Charitable watersports and outdoor activity centre on Marine Walk at Roker, beside the marina, offering kayaking, paddleboarding, coasteering, powerboating and outdoor education.
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
A Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust nature reserve on the banks of the River Wear, with bird hides, woodland walks, adventure play areas and Asian short-clawed otters.
Sunderland AFC (Stadium of Light)
Sunderland AFC play home matches at the Stadium of Light on the north bank of the Wear, a 49,000-capacity ground opened in 1997. The club also runs guided stadium tours on selected non-match days.
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