Places to Visit
The Limestone Landscapes is an area full of history with some fantastic places to visit. Please take the time to have a look at some of the places that offer great days out for the whole family.
The Limestone Landscapes is an area full of history with some fantastic places to visit. Please take the time to have a look at some of the places that offer great days out for the whole family.
The Heugh Gun Battery
The only First World War battlefield site on the mainland. Located on the Headland at Hartlepool the museum is a restored 19th century gun battery filled with history and intrigue. To find out more about the First World War and Hartlepool please visit the Heugh Battery website.
Thrislington National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Thrislington NNR is the most valuable wildlife site on County Durham’s magnesian limestone.
Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve
Visit Castle Eden Dene NNR and enter a world where magical yew, oak, ash and dying elm create a home for other plants and creatures. 10,000 years of wild growth in a deep gorge has created a place you can explore again and again.
Cassop Vale National Nature Reserve
Cassop Vale NNR is the most diverse wildlife site on County Durham’s magnesian limestone.
Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve (LNR)
The Wingate Quarry LNR (PDF, 2Mb) has an area of magnesian limestone grassland and associated wildflowers.
Blackhall Rocks
Blackhall Rocks is a special coastal site for magnesian limestone grasslands running from Crimdon Dene Caravan Park to Castle Eden Dene. It is also a Geological SSSI for its Coastal Rocks
Hawthorn Dene
Hawthorn Dene is the 2nd largest coastal Dene in the county consisting of relatively unspoilt ancient semi natural broadleaved woodland and species rich limestone hay meadows.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens combines a museum, art gallery, an exhibition space and winter gardens to create a stunning visitor attraction in the heart of Sunderland City Centre.
Mowbray Park
Mowbray Park is one of the oldest municipal parks in the North East. It is a green oasis in the heart of the city. Now restored to its former victorian splendour, the park features an unusual blend of historic and modern features including an ornamental lake and childrens’ play area.
Fulwell Windmill
Fulwell Windmill is a distinctive Sunderland landmark and the only working windmill in North East England. Built in 1808 from the magnesium limestone from nearby quarries. It has recently been restored and now features a purpose built visitor centre that offers a rare glimpse of the workings of a 19th century windmill. Events and guided tours through the mills 5 floors, demonstrate the ancient art of corn milling.
Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
Souter Lighthouse is a special place all year round and was the first lighthouse in the world designed and built to be powered by electricity. Opened in 1871, decommissioned in 1988, the National Trust acquired it and opened it to the public in 1990. The Leas is a two and a half mile stretch of magnesian limestone cliffs, wave cut foreshore and coastal grassland. The cliffs and rock stacks of Marsden Bay are home to nesting Kittiwakes, Fulmar, Cormorants, Shags and Gullemots.