Is Northumberlandia Dog Friendly?

 

Northumberlandia is a woodland trail, country park and landscape sculpture with a dog-friendly cafe, visitor centre and toilets on site near Cramlington in South East Northumberland. It's super easy to get to via the A1 / A19 and there is a large free car park (suggested donation £2). Northumberlandia is also accessible by public transport (find out more here). It is free to visit. 

Address: 

Northumberlandia 
Fisher Lane 
Cramlington 
Northumberland 
NE23 8AU

With the country park covering 46 acres and there being 4 miles of paths around the giant art sculpture to explore, it's a lovely spot for a dog walk with a difference.

Dogs are very welcome to visit at Northumberlandia and it's a popular dog walking site but they do need to be kept on a lead and under control, especially around the wildlife. There is a dog-friendly cafe where dogs are welcome both inside and out and water bowls for dogs too. Oh and there is a dog-friendly pub next door and dog-friendly garden centre up the road. 

In short, I find Northumberlandia to be super dog-friendly as long as your dog doesn't mind being on a lead but read on to find out more. 

Obviously, please make sure you clean up after your dog too. There are bins on site. 

There is no set route around Northumberlandia. You could just walk the perimeter which is completely flat or climb some of the smaller mounds. If you choose to climb right to the top, this is 100ft and the views are fantastic. 

Northumberlandia is open daily from dawn until dusk. You don't need to book, simply turn up. During the winter, the cafe and toilets are open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm (closed Mondays).

Taking in the views of Shotton Surface Mine

Northumberlandia can get muddy after any period of rain and I would recommend walking boots for humans rather than your best shoes. 

As well as the cafe (more on that later in this post), there are picnic tables and benches dotted about the land sculpture and it's an ideal picnic spot and very scenic. 

Northumberlandia is a living sculpture and changes with the seasons. Sixteen red list species of birds have been spotted here and it's a brill place to spot butterflies & meadow flowers. The wildlife ponds are home to ducks, mallards, herons, swans and newts. 
 

In terms of access, it depends on the weather conditions. In dry spells, a lot of the sculpture will be accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs however there are some steep gradients that would be a struggle. 

Dog-friendly Cafe at Northumberlandia 

Just after the car park and before you get to the sculpture you will find a lovely dog-friendly cafe where dogs are welcome both inside and out. In the winter months they are open from 10am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday). Check out their Facbook page for up-to-date info. 

The cafe sells hot and soft drinks, cakes, snacks, ice creams, light bites and specials. Cash and card are accepted and there are water bowls for dogs too. 

Towards the side of the cafe you will find the toilets. 

Sample menu 

Woodland Trail at Northumberlandia 

Please note, at time of typing this the woodland trail is closed due to storm damage. Check the Northumberland Wildlife Trust website for updates. I expect it will re-open soon. 

The woodland trail sits between the Lady of the North Sculpture and the cafe / car park and is a lovely little addition. You can walk through this area admiring the different mini sculptures. I bet it's a good place for a sniff! 

In the school holidays there are often themed trails in this area too if you'd like to bring the kids and there are picnic benches and tables if you would prefer to enjoy your picnic here. 

Northumberlandia is a compact site but I like that there is still 4 miles of walks to enjoy due to the various mounds you can climb and routes you can take. There are toilets, varying landscapes, different sounds and smells, a cafe, dog water bowls and bins too. We love visiting and would definitely recommend. 

Find out more about visiting Northumberlandia here. 

Where to visit nearby 

I would probably recommend 30 minutes - 1 hour at Northumberlandia. It's not a full day out but there are plenty of dog-friendly places you can enjoy including: 

• The Snowy Owl (a dog-friendly pub next door) 
• East Cramlington Nature Reserve
• Plessey Woods 
• The Giant Spoon 
• Plants Plus Garden Centre (garden centre and outdoor seating at the restaurant)