UK Dog Walking Guide: North East England

The next step on our walking tour of mainland UK is the not-to-be-missed North East of England. This fantastic region is made of four fabulous counties; County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and a part of North Yorkshire. In this post, we will be highlighting the awe-inspiring walks that can be found in this breathtaking region, so you and your dogs can plan your next great North East adventure with relative ease. 

As with all the walks on our jaunt around the UK, our aim here is to make walking with your dogs a pleasure, rather than a chore. We are lucky enough to live in a country that has some of the lushest and most beautiful countryside spots in existence and we think it’s best to turn your exercise and exertion into excellent adventures and explorations. And with all the sights there is to see in the North East of England, there really is no excuse not to get out there with your dogs and enjoy an epic exploration on foot, or paws!  

So, come with us today on a virtual tour of the best dog walks the North West has to offer and get some inspiration for your next Northern staycation or expedition.

County Durham 

The only county in England to be prefixed with the word “County” and home to some gorgeous countryside, is the fabulous County Durham. This awesome area of the UK  is sandwiched between Yorkshire to the south and Newcastle to the north and contains a large part of the pristine North Pennines, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the perfect place to take a run-out with your canine companions.

Cow Green Reservoir is a 3km long water reservoir that was built in the late 1960s to provide for the needs of industry in the North East of England and is situated in the heart of this awesome AONB. These days, Cow Green Reservoir is a fantastic place to get out with your furry family, take in the moorland views, see the fantastic range of birdlife and pay a visit to the spectacular waterfall at Cauldron Snout. Cow Green Reservoir is also a dedicated dark sky site, these sites are a network of places across the UK with minimal local light pollution and good sightlines enabling you to see all the celestial wonders of the night sky. Day or night, Cow Green Reservoir and its stunning surrounding area are well worth the visit.

Tyne & Wear

The smallest county by size in the North East but the most populated is the terrific Tyne & Wear. The largest city in this area is of course Newcastle upon Tyne and situated a short walk from the city centre is the gorgeous Jesmond Dene Park. Jesmond Dene is a narrow wooded valley that accompanies the river Ouseburn on its journey and is a vital piece of natural habitat in this marvellously metropolitan area. Along your adventurous walk, you and your canine companions may be able to spot kingfishers and red squirrels, as well as plenty of architectural and historical goodies to keep your walk not only invigorating but interesting too. There is also a cafe, visitors centre, kids play area and a pets corner for any little ones wanting to get some hands-on experience with some of our other furry friends. In short, Jesmond Dene is the perfect place to get a bit of respite from city life and stretch your and your dog’s legs amongst this little patch of the natural world. 

Northumberland

Many of us living in the south may not associate the North East with beautiful beaches and unmissable coast walks, however, Northumberland can provide these both in spades. One of the most well-loved walks in this area is one that skirts the Northumberland coast in and around the beautiful Newton Pool. This lovely seaside spectacle is a bird reserve that is managed by The National Trust and is home to a wide variety of birdlife, so be sure to pack your binoculars! Alongside the fantastic wealth of natural wonders to see, there is also the 18th-century hamlet of Low Newton, with its historic pub and whitewashed cottages as well a spectacular 14th-century ruin in the form of Dunstanburgh Castle. With beautiful beaches, stunning scenery and some fantastic twitching opportunities, Newton Pool really is one not to be missed. 

North Yorkshire

It would be hard to write about this area of the world without a mention of the North York Moors National Park. With a choice of stunning coastlines, wide open heather-covered moors, magical woodlands and a whole host of historical wonders, there really is something for everyone, and every dog, in the North York Moors National Park. This superb site is also another designated dark sky site so it is fantastic for those budding astronomers too. There’s so much to do in the North York National Park that it’s hard to squeeze it into one blog post so I’ll simply leave you with its fantastic website so you can explore this amazing park for yourself and plan your (and your dogs) next great North East adventure.

With all these fantastic places to get out to, we can't wait to get up there again with our dogs by our sides, flasks in hand and binoculars packed, so we can explore everything the incomparable North East has to offer.