Durham Coast National Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve characterized by its distinctive Magnesian Limestone geology, featuring yellow cliffs, shallow bays, and headlands along the North Sea coastline. The reserve encompasses diverse habitats, including coastal grasslands rich in unique flora, and wooded valleys known as denes. This varied landscape provides a setting for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, mountain biking, and more.
The Durham Coast National Nature…
108
Routes
4.5
(112)
Average rating
1427
People visited

4.0
(1)
7
hikers
17.9km
04:43
160m
150m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(1)
72
hikers
5.48km
01:25
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
55
hikers
10.1km
02:45
160m
160m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(13)
47
hikers
10.2km
02:37
50m
50m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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1
riders
55.7km
03:31
380m
380m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.7
(3)
78
riders
58.5km
03:57
330m
330m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(2)
47
riders
52.4km
03:26
320m
320m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3.7
(6)
21
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3
riders
105km
04:56
840m
840m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

52
riders
63.6km
03:15
430m
430m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

48
riders
32.4km
01:33
160m
160m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

29
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.0
(2)
25
riders
51.8km
03:11
270m
270m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(2)
8
riders
66.8km
04:17
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.5
(4)
21
riders
22.7km
01:29
160m
160m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(13)
17
riders
34.3km
02:19
320m
320m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(4)
42
riders
59.4km
03:06
330m
330m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
17
riders
27.2km
01:26
160m
160m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
16.2km
00:56
130m
130m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
runners
18.5km
02:04
210m
210m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

19
runners
16.6km
01:49
110m
110m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
8.15km
00:51
60m
60m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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The Durham Coast National Nature Reserve is a protected area characterized by its unique Magnesian Limestone geology, featuring yellow cliffs, shallow bays, and wooded denes. It is recognized for its ecological restoration from an industrial past and its rich biodiversity.
The Durham Coast National Nature Reserve offers various outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and gravel biking. There are 6 routes available on komoot, with an average rating of 4.46 stars.
Yes, the reserve features a network of hiking trails along coastal paths, limestone cliffs, and through wooded denes. Explore options for various skill levels, including Hiking in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve.
The area provides cycling routes suitable for road and touring bikes, often combining coastal views with converted railway paths. Information on routes can be found in guides like Road Cycling Routes in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve and Cycling in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve.
While dedicated mountain biking trails within the reserve are limited, the broader County Durham region offers opportunities for off-road cycling. Some cycling routes in the wider Durham area include on and off-road sections. Consult MTB Trails in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve for available options.
Yes, the reserve offers routes suitable for beginners and families. Specific guides like Easy hikes in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve and Family-friendly hikes in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve provide suitable options.
The reserve is home to diverse wildlife, including important breeding populations of little terns at Crimdon. Visitors may also spot kestrels, kittiwake gulls, roe deer, and various wildflowers and butterflies, such as the rare Durham Argus butterfly.
The reserve is known for its Magnesian Limestone geology, forming yellow cliffs up to 100 feet (30 meters) high, shallow bays, and headlands. It also features wooded valleys (denes), sandy beaches like Crimdon with sand dunes, and rock pools at Blackhall Rocks.
More than 31,000 visitors have shared their experiences in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve on komoot. The available routes have an average rating of 4.46 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including those for Hiking, Road Cycling, MTB Trails, and Running Trails. There are also guides for family-friendly and easy hikes.
Information regarding parts of the Durham Coast National Nature Reserve can be found through the National Trust. The National Trust can be contacted at +441915293161 for inquiries related to their managed areas.
Yes, there are options for traffic-free bike rides within the Durham Coast National Nature Reserve area. Guides such as Traffic-free bike rides in Durham Coast National Nature Reserve provide details on these routes.

