Parks & Outdoor Attractions

Herrington Country Park and Penshaw Monument

Our outdoor spaces offer lots to see and do with the whole family, and they change with the seasons, so there's always something new to see, whether you need your wellies or your suncream.

We've got some of the most magnificent parks and countryside in the UK. Mowbray Park is the jewel in the crown of the city centre, and winner of 'Best Park' at the 2014 Northumbria in Bloom awards.

Herrington Country Park is at the foot of the iconic Penshaw Monument and has walks and cycle trails, a play area, lake and a variety of sculptures.

For more opportunities to get up close with wildlife, nature and other animals, head to Washington Wetland Centre, Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve or Down at the Farm for great days out.

Albany Park

Albany Park

Visit one of Washington's parks with extensive grassed areas and woodland plantations. Situated next to the 'F' Pit Museum in Albany.
Find out more
Backhouse Park

Backhouse Park

This park is a natural arboretum with a large variety of trees and some of the city's largest mature trees, producing a wonderful display of autumn colour. Renowned for its magnificient bulb display in early spring the park is overlooked by University of Sunderland's Name Art College.
Find out more
Barnes Park

Barnes Park

A great day out for all the family with wonderful walks, play areas, bowling greens, tennis courts and a cafe. The largest of the city's urban parks stretching just under 2 miles in length features a Victorian style bandstand and a cannon situated near to the West End bowling greens which were...
Find out more

Down at the Farm

Take a tractor ride around this fun farm to meet the cows and you will hear the bleating of sheep and hoots of snowy owls.  Children can pet and stroke the animals in the farmyard and there is even a chance to be a mini zoo keeper. Seasonal activities include helping to feed the spring lambs and...
Find out more
Herrington Country Park

Herrington Country Park

One of the largest parks in Sunderland with walks and cycle trails, family cycling with Sustrans, an adventure play area, skate boarding, Nordic walking, model boat sailing in the lake and a variety of sculptures that celebrate the heritage of the area. It's home to many exciting events like the...
Find out more
Hetton Lyons Country Park

Hetton Lyons Country Park

Discover the picturesque views of this park on a former colliery site just on the outskirts of Hetton centre. The park featuring a sporting lake, fishing lakes, football pitches, orienteering course, play park and is also part of the national cycling network. There are dedicated cycle tracks and...
Find out more
Mowbray Park

Mowbray Park

At the heart of the city sits Mowbray Park, one of the oldest parks in the North East of England and often described as 'the jewel in the crown of the city centre'. Trip Advisor Click here  AccessAble Click here
Find out more
Penshaw circular walk

Penshaw circular walk

This is a 4 mile (6.5km) walk starting from the foot of Penshaw Monument. The route offers great views of Penshaw Monument and the surrounding countryside as well as covering a number of interesting historical features and locations, including: Penshaw Monument Penshaw Monument was built in honour...
Find out more

Pages

Did you know?

Sunderland is home of the National Glass Centre - the only UK centre celebrating the history of glass making and providing a world focus for glass. The centre reopened in 2013 after undergoing a major refurbishment.

Twitter

RT : How excited are we?! The fantastic are coming to Sunderland Airshow. Everyone get your dancing shoe… https://t.co/AqPEhjT5KD — 2 days 11 hours ago
Tall Ships won best overall event! Lots of great nominations and a great night for Sunderland at — 3 days 2 hours ago
Beautiful trophy designed by graduate Jade Tapson https://t.co/6j6syDIB2h — 3 days 3 hours ago
Sunderland band taking to the stage at the and sounding great. https://t.co/plXwtlfanF — 3 days 4 hours ago
The Tall Ships Sunderland won best event in Sunderland in 2018! Fantastic news and great recognition for the event… https://t.co/MyJKeaF6fJ — 3 days 4 hours ago
We’re at the in the lovely Middlesbrough Town Hall tonight, lots of fantastic Sunderland nom… https://t.co/KZy5c5JgJb — 3 days 5 hours ago
What a fantastic gem of a place! We’ve just toured the Bowes Railway and highly recommend a visit. Fascinating hist… https://t.co/eNEfegqnDr — 3 days 8 hours ago
RT : We're over the moon to announce 's mural in our entrance has just been officially unveiled to the p… https://t.co/swWDQ65TWY — 3 days 15 hours ago
Another Bank Holiday weekend on it's way - yay! and there's lots of great stuff happening in our Why no… https://t.co/qEiXLLFkiE — 4 days 10 hours ago
RT : 📣 Announcement! 📣 We’re excited to let you know that Summer Streets Festival is returning to Sunderland on Saturday… https://t.co/ZtQpAjOMXo — 4 days 11 hours ago
RT : A social and political pioneer worthy of remembrance, Dr Marion Phillips was the first female MP to represent Sunde… https://t.co/vsfwUMUrBe — 4 days 11 hours ago
RT : Take a fresh look at the centre of Sunderland. We’re shop full of surprises! ✨ Shop til 8pm every Thursday and rec… https://t.co/eCMRVVKBof — 5 days 3 hours ago
RT : Next week today will be our Medieval Fayre! We hope you're as excited as we are! https://t.co/p5ViVF1gBn — 5 days 3 hours ago
RT : Houghton hosted the first Scrantastic food festival at the weekend, with guests including ,… https://t.co/j5vSUTnMZ6 — 6 days 5 hours ago
If you enjoyed Scrantastic over the weekend, there’s only a few weeks until Sunderland Food and Drink Festival. Cel… https://t.co/82mR3RjyFl — 6 days 11 hours ago

Facebook

See it Do it Sunderland
Download the See it Do it app

Sign up to our newsletter

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
1 + 0 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.