Weetslade blends history with nature, offering panoramic views, diverse wildlife, and a peaceful retreat. The site has been associated with mining since the 1800s and was home to Weetslade Colliery from 1903 to 1967, at its peak employing over 1,000 people. Today, visitors still can explore remnants of the 1826 Brunton and Shields Railroad, which once carried coal to the River Tyne.
Designated a Site of Conservation Interest in the 1990s, the area underwent restoration through the National Coalfields Programme, creating a country park with wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands and officially opening in 2006. Weetslade is now a Local Wildlife Site, home to species such as otters, skylarks, and swallows, while the ‘Drill Head’ sculpture commemorates its mining heritage.
Open access
Park at the eastern end of the site near High Weetslade Farm on the B1319 near its junction with the A189
Well-surfaced paths suitable for wheelchairs and buggies
Maintained footpaths
Dogs allowed
Newcastle upon Tyne,
Tyne and Wear,
NE23 7LZ
