Bill Quay Farm
Visit Bill Quay Farm
Bill Quay Farm is one of Gateshead's quieter treasures, a twenty seven acre community farm overlooking the River Tyne, run largely by Chrysalis Training and the Bill Quay Community Farm Association for the benefit of the whole neighbourhood. It's a small, unpolished, thoroughly genuine sort of place, home to rare breed pigs, sheep, goats and geese, and it's entirely free to wander around, animal food available for a couple of pounds a bag if your wild child fancies getting properly involved.
The lowdown:
Where: Hainingwood Terrace, Bill Quay, Gateshead, NE10 0UE
When: Generally Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, though it's worth checking current hours via the farm's Facebook page before travelling, as they can vary
Cost: Free entry, with donations gratefully received. Animal feed is available to buy for around £2 a bag, and some special activities, such as alpaca walks, carry a small extra charge.
Parking: There's parking available on Fisher Well Road nearby, and Pelaw Metro station is a pleasant nine minute walk away
Why your wild child will love it: this is proper hands-on farm territory, with the chance to meet rare breed pigs, goats and geese up close, plus a small woodland area and community allotments to explore. It's not a big day out in itself, but it's an easy, free and genuinely charming addition to a wider trip along the Tyne.
Contact: Updates via billquayfarm.co.uk or their Facebook page.