Castle Eden Dene: what makes it special?
Located on the edge of Durham’s urban fringe, the reserve is a magical place full of legend and folklore, which has been left to spread and sprawl through this deep gorge for over 10,000 years.
It’s now the largest area of semi-natural woodland in north-east England, and is famous for its majestic yew trees, and fantastic stands of ancient oak and ash.
The Dene
The Dene (or valley), with its strange rocks and mysterious atmosphere, has fascinated people for thousands of years. The reserve covers 221 hectares of woodland and lowland grassland, where post-glacial melt waters have carved out some spectacular limestone cliffs and gorges.
The steep crumbling sides of the gorge are made of soft magnesian limestone.
The Dene is 3.5 miles (5.6km) long and is the largest of a series of valleys which run down to the coast between Sunderland and Hartlepool, reaching the sea at Denemouth.
Often there is no water at the bottom of the gorge, as Castle Eden Burn is now seasonal and disappears into the limestone rock during the summer.
Walking the Dene
The Dene is a wild world of constant change, where severe weather can cause landslips and falling trees. It is therefore not advisable to visit during bad weather.
There are some very steep drops, so please keep to the footpaths. Good, suitable footwear is essential.
Walk 1 - Miss Mary’s Walk - 2miles (3.5km) between 2-2½ hours - Follow the Yew Markers
Walk 2 – 1.8 miles ( 3km) between 1-2 hours. Follow the Squirrel markers
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Contents
- Castle Eden Dene NNR
- What makes it special?
- Wildlife
- History
- Seasonal highlights
- How to get there
- Want to get involved?
Resources
- Site map
(Nature on the Map)
Events
Other NNRs in the area