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Herrington Country Park

Herrington Country Park, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne & Wear, DH4 7EL

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Access Guide

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Opening Times

  • The venue is open 24hrs.

Location

  • There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Sunderland.
  • The nearest Metro Station is South Hylton.

Parking (Model Boating Lake)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park is located to the north side of the park, opposite the model boating lake.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 5 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 368cm x 488cm (12ft 1in x 16ft).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 3m (3yd 10in) from the model boating lake car park entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 16m (17yd 1ft) from the model boating lake car park entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • Please see the Herrington Country Park Car Park and Toilet Block guide for the main car parking details.

Parking (Skate Park Car Park)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park is located to the west side of the park, opposite the skate park and BMX track.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 0 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is / are uneven surfaces.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • Please see the Herrington Country Park Car Park and Toilet Block guide for the main car parking details.

Main Country Park Vehicle and Pedestrian Entrance and Exit

  • The main entrance and exit to the Country Park for vehicles and pedestrians is located off Chester Road. (Photograph 1).
  • There entrance road has two lanes.
  • The road has gates which are closed at dusk.
  • There is a footpath to both sides of the gates and road.
  • There are no gates on the footpath and the clear width on the footpath to the right of the gates is 173cm. The path to the right has a very easy gradient. (Photograph 2).
  • After approximately 80m there is a road crossing the pathway to the right. (Photograph 3) and there is a dropped kerb at either side of this road. (Photograph 4).
  • After approximately 100m the path to the right turns to the right and there is an easy slope on the path, leading to the Country Park. (Photographs 5, 6 and 7).
  • The clear width on the footpath to the left of the gates is 83cm and this path leads to the Duck Pond. (Photograph 8).
  • There is a metal bench seat without arm rests at the beginning of the path to the left. (Photograph 9).
  • After the bench seat the path has a steep slope, leading down to the Duck Pond. (Photographs 10 and 11).
  • After the Duck Pond the path has a slight slope upwards to the road. (Photographs 12, 13 and 14).
  • There is a wooden bench seat with armrests, towards the end of the path, overlooking the Duck Pond. (Photograph 15).
  • The path then rejoins the main road and is approximately 60m in length. (Photograph 16).
  • Both paths are constructed of tarmac.
  • Both paths have some uneven surfaces.

Access Point (Main Car Park Entrance)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located leading to the park from the main car park.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is an open gap for access.
    • The width at the bottom of the squeeze gap is 112cm. The width at the top of the squeeze gap is 32cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located on the road leading to the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.

Access Point (Access Road Entrance)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located leading from the main car park to the access road that leads into the park.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is stepped access at this access point.
    • There is an open gap for access.
    • The width at the bottom of the squeeze gap is 112cm. The width at the top of the squeeze gap is 32cm.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located on the pathway leading from the car park.
    • There is/are 1 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 10cm.
    • The going of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).

Access Point (Chester Road Entrance)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Chester Road.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is an open gap for access.
    • The width at the lower part of the entrance is 112cm. The width at the upper part of the entrance is 32cm.
  • Comments View
    • There are similar entrances leading into the park from the model boating lake (shown in photographs 3 and 4), McClaren Way (shown in photographs 5 and 6), Lady Beatrice Terrace (shown in photographs 7 and 8), Railway Terrace North (shown in photographs 9 and 10), and leading from the fishing lake area to the access road that leads to the skate park car park (shown in photographs 11 and 12).
    • Some of the entrances have a gate next to them which prevents vehicles from entering the park, but allows pedestrians and horses to enter.
    • The barrier at the bottom of the anti-vehicle gate creates a deep step (30cm).

Access Point (Model Boating Lake Entrance)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located in the model boating lake car park.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is no gate at this access point.
    • There is a boulder in the entrance area which reduces the width to a minimum of 121cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located throughout the entrance area.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.

Parks and Gardens

  • The park or garden does have footpaths.
  • The path(s) has a / have compact earth, tarmac, gravel and muddy surface(s).
  • The majority of the path(s) is / are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There are moderate, slight and steep slopes on the paths.
  • There are some bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
  • Comments View
    • There are picnic benches opposite the model boating lake.
    • The height of the picnic tables is 67cm.
    • There are gates throughout the park to access various areas.
    • The minimum width at the gates is 123cm.
    • There are maps located at various points throughout the park.
    • The height to the top of the maps is 110cm.
    • There are 3 walking routes marked on the maps.
    • The lngth of the walking routes are 1km, 2km, and 3km.
    • The routes are signposted throughout the park.
    • There are signposts located at various points throughout the park.
    • Some of the signposts are weathered and may be hard to read.
    • Some of the paths may become uneven during winter months and rain as the gravel may be washed down the gradients.

Skate Park and BMX Track

  • The skate park and BMX track are located to the west side of the park, opposite the skate park car park.
  • The surface of the skate park is tarmac and concrete.
  • The skate park has some steep ramps / slopes.
  • There are steps to access some areas of the skate park.
  • There are 2 medium height steps without handrails to access the top of one skate ramp.
  • There are 7 medium height steps with a handrail to the centre to access the skate ramp nearest to the car park.
  • The BMX track is a grass and dirt track area next to the skate park.
  • The BMX track has slopes with a variety of gradients throughout from easy to steep.

Amphitheatre

  • The amphitheatre is located at the fork in the access road leading to the two car parks.
  • The amphitheatre is used for various outdoor events.
  • The nearest car park is the skate park car park.
  • The entrance to the amphitheatre is a single gate, which opens away from you.
  • The width of the gate is 114cm.
  • The gate gives access to the top of the amphitheatre.
  • There is no designated seating for wheelchair users.
  • The seats are grassed.
  • There is stepped access to the seating.
  • The steps have handrails on the stage side.
  • The stage is located at the front of the amphitheatre.
  • The stage is accessed by an easy ramp.
  • The ramp is 120cm wide.
  • There are handrails on both sides.
  • There are 4 medium height steps to access the stage.
  • The steps do not have tactile paving.
  • The steps are not clearly marked.
  • The steps have handrails on both sides.
  • The ramp overcomes the steps.
  • The lower area of the amphitheatre can be accessed by using one of the sloped paths leading down from the skate park car park.

Sight Lines Scuplture

  • The Sight Lines Sculpture is located on a hill in the centre of the country park.
  • The sculpture is signposted throughout the park.
  • Access to the sculpture is via compacted earth and gravel paths.
  • The paths are on an easy gradient and are over 150cm wide.
  • The sculpture features 7 viewing points with windows creating sight lines to local landmarks.
  • Each viewing point has a plaque with the name of the local landmark.
  • The height to the top of the viewing window is 170cm.

Miners Memorial Garden

  • The Miners Memorial Garden is located to the south of the park, near the Railway Terrace North entrance.
  • The minimum width at the entrance to the garden is 236cm wide.
  • The surface of the garden is gravel and grass.
  • The surface is uneven.
  • Ther are bench seats in the garden.

Children's Play Area

  • The children's play area is located at the north of the park, next to the car park, cafe, and toilet block.
  • There is a gate to enter the play area.
  • The gate opens away from you and is heavy.
  • The width of the gate is 126cm.
  • There is a variety of play equipment for different age groups.
  • There are picnic benches near the entrance.
  • The height of the picnic benches is 77cm.
  • There are benches with armrests.
  • The surface of the paths is tarmac.
  • The surface around the play equipment is bark.
  • Some of the play equipment is accessed by slopes or steps.
  • The steps do not have handrails.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • Please see the Herrington Country Park Car Park and Toilet Block guide for toilet details.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Please see the Herrington Country Park Car Park and Toilet Block guide for toilet details.

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