GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy a short cycle or walk around the large lake in this pretty country park near Ashington. The lake is surrounded by woodland and grassland and there is also a miniature railway to ride. The park is situated on the site of the Woodhorn Colliery and the old colliery buildings have now been turned into a museum. Queen Elizabeth II Country Park is located near the Northumberland Coast between Newbiggin By the Sea and Ashington.
Druridge Bay Country Park is only a few miles north so you could continue your walk or ride along the coast to this beautiful park.

Postcode

NE63 9AT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

At the northern end of the lake there's a Premier Inn for post walk refreshments. They have a decent restaurant serving a good range of meals and light bites. The Woodhorn Museum towards the south of the lake also has an on site cafe.

Dog Walking

The park is a great place for a dog walk so you'll probably see other owners on your visit.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The Woodhorn Colliery Museum is one of the area's highlights and located at the southern end of the park in what was once the largest pit village in the world. It's a fascinating place giving an insight into the area's social history with original buildings and equipment from the former colliery and a fantastic exhibition of miner's paintings as well.
Head a couple of miles south into Ashington and you could visit Wansbeck Riverside Country Park. There's more nice waterside trails to be found here along the River Wansbeck.
Just to the east you could pay a visit to the coastal town of Newbiggin By the Sea. There's some nice trails along the beach and bay with a noteworthy 13th century church and an interesting old 17th century pub to visit too.
To the south there's some nice trails along the River Blyth in Bedlington Country Park and Humford Woods.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Northumberland Walks page.

Photos

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 268863

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park lake.

QEII Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 671289

QEII Country Park. Originally part of the largest colliery spoil heap in Europe, now a landscaped Country Park.

North shore to lake at Queen Elizabeth II Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 2106610

North shore to lake. Car Park on the right.

Pub and car park at Queen Elizabeth Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 268880

Pub and car park

Fishing stages in Queen Elizabeth Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 2506180

Fishing stages

Narrow gauge railway at Woodhorn (geograph 4713373)

Narrow gauge railway at Woodhorn. A 2-foot gauge heritage railway runs for a little under 2 km from Woodhorn Museum to Lakeside Halt near the Premier Inn at the north end of the lake in Queen Elizabeth II Country Park. The "Hunslet" locomotive originally operated on a surface railway at Murton pit in County Durham.

The Cutter - Woodhorn Colliery Museum - geograph.org.uk - 272733

The Cutter - Woodhorn Colliery Museum. An amazing piece of architecture which houses a timeline of local mining history

Woodhorn Colliery Museum - geograph.org.uk - 894458

Woodhorn Colliery Museum

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)