Hamsterley Forest Car park on Forest Drive DL13 3NL NZ079308

Parking is available at the starting point. 

[1] Start from the car park on Forest Drive. There is a footpath leading along a picnic area in the back of the small car park. Go over a bridge and follow this path for a distance with the river on your right. 

Take care as this path might be muddy in wet weather.

[2] When you reach the main road, Forest Drive, turn left and follow the road.

Take care and look out for cars.

[3] Ignore the tarmac road that leads sharp right up to houses and follow the road further. It will lead you past houses on your left and over a bridge before returning to the car park.

Hamsterley Forest offers a wide range of outdoor activity to locals as well as tourists. The Trailblazers aim to make the forest a paradise for mountain bikers and developed mountain bike routes with different grading ranging from Green (easy) to Black (expert). There is also Descend, a private mountain bike club with about 170 members who operates mountain bike and downhill courses in the forest.

The Durham Fell Runners are also active in the forest and organise regular events starting from the Visitor Centre.

Hamsterley Village Hall offers weekly activities such as indoor bowls, Keep Fit, Pilates and Karate.