Jesmond Dene and Pets Corner
Visit Jesmond Dene and Pets' Corner
There's something rather lovely about the fact that a proper wooded valley, complete with waterfalls and an old water mill, sits just a few minutes from the middle of the city. Jesmond Dene is exactly that kind of surprise — a genuine escape where a wild child can charge ahead along the paths, clamber over rocks by the river, and get pleasantly muddy without a single raised eyebrow. At its heart is Pets' Corner, a free little farm that's been welcoming Newcastle families since the 1960s, home to goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks and the occasional visiting pig — all there to be admired, if not fed (they're on carefully managed diets, so best leave your own supplies at home).
The lowdown:
Where: Jesmond Dene, with entrances off Ouseburn Road, Millfield House and Paddy Freeman Park (postcode for Pets' Corner and the Visitor Centre: NE7 7DZ)
When: Pets' Corner is open daily, 10.30am–4pm, last entry 3.45pm (Bank Holidays are usually included, but worth checking). The wider Dene itself is open dawn until dusk, every day, for walking and play.
Cost: Free, with a donation box at Pets' Corner — contributions go towards feed, bedding and veterinary care
Parking: A car park runs along Red Walk, with Blue Badge bays close to the Visitor Centre. The nearest Metro stops are West Jesmond or Jesmond.
Why your wild child will love it: there's genuine adventure to be had — bridges to cross, sticks to race under them, a play park for under-8s right by Pets' Corner, and miles of woodland path for them to lead and you to follow (at whatever pace they set). Millfield House has a café for when everyone needs a sit-down.
Contact: More at jesmonddene.org.uk or newcastle.gov.uk.