Jesmond Dene
Jesmond Dene is a delightful
green valley just outside the city centre.
Being possibly Newcastle's best loved park,
Jesmond Dene is an oasis of natural tranquility in a busy city. It is easy to
forget you are in an urban area when you are in the sprawling acres of this park
and the hours can pass by very quickly.
In between lush greenery there are
grassy areas, flower beds, swings for the kids, a pets corner, and bowling
greens, and linking them all together is the stream (a tributary of the nearby
river Tyne) that runs through the Dene. A good time to visit is on a sunny
Sunday morning, when there is a market and craft fair held at the
Cradlewell
end of the Dene (signposted off the A1058). Well worth a visit
for a stroll to forget the stresses of city life.
Jesmond Dene is a unique resource for
the people of Newcastle. It is a narrow wooded valley that follows the River
Ouseburn between South Gosforth and Jesmond Vale. This provides an important
wildlife corridor right into the centre of Newcastle. There is a spectacular mix
of native and exotic trees, and the Dene is home to a lot of wildlife, notably
the Kingfisher, the Red Squirrel and many
woodland birds. The Dene Stretches for
over three kilometres and has many areas of tranquility, as well as 'honey
pots' of activity.
Pictures on this page have been
reproduced with the kind permission of the original photographer. Chris Tweedy
has an excellent site with some superb photography of the Geordie kingdom -
Please visit his site and enjoy...Chris Tweedy
Jesmond Dene provides strong historical links with 19th Century industrial
development and landscape design - Lord Armstrong's influence being very
apparent. There is also a large network of paths and bridges throughout.
Near the entrance of Jesmond Dene, just off the Coast Road is Millfield House.
This provides a range of facilities including a Ranger Service Information Room,
Conference Centre, café and toilets. This part of the Dene also has a large
picnic area and a 'Pets Corner'.
Limited parking is available but alternatively there are good public transport
links, many buses stopping at the Cradlewell on the Coast Road (A1058).
Other facilities in Jesmond Dene include Paddy Freeman’s boating lake, which
also has a play area, toilets and café open on a weekend and holidays. This area
can be reached along Freeman Road.
