Map of Nosterfield Nature Reserve and Quarry

Nosterfield Nature Reserve: Facilities & Accessibility

  • Car park for over 20 cars. There is space for a 50-seater coach; please contact LUCT if you would like to organise a group visit.

  • Car park viewing area; overlook the Reserve from your car (this area has no pedestrian access in order to minimise disturbance to wildlife).

  • 1.5 km of permissive footpaths accessible by wheelchair and suitable for those with mobility issues.

  • Permissive footpaths can be accessed at all times.

  • Wheelchair access to the Interpretation Building/Bird Hide and Tanfield Hide (open during daylight hours) and Northern Viewing Screen (open at all times).

  • Dogs on short leads are welcome on permissive footpaths (except the path to the Northern Viewing Screen).  Please keep the area special by clearing up after your dog!

  • There are no toilets or refreshment areas on site.

West Tanfield Hide (top left), birds on Main Lake and visitors at the Northern Viewing Screen

Nosterfield Quarry

The Lower Ure Conservation Trust also manage Nosterfield Quarry; the area around Kiln and Flasks Lake. Restored from former sand and gravel quarries, the area is rich in wildlife. Look out for Kingfishers, Bittern and Osprey through the summer months, Brown Argus in the grasses near the reedbed and listen for Green Woodpecker and Cetti’s Warbler along the causeway.

  • Over 3.5 kilometres of permissive footpaths to explore.

  • Reedbed viewing screen, a great vantage point and a place to pause and look for wildlife.

  • There is a toilet in the Tarmac Visitor Centre in the Quarry Car Park.