Wansbeck Riverside Park covers around 112 hectares of woodland, grassland and the river and is located to the south of Ashington, between the A1068 and A189.

The park is a popular area for activities such as walking, bird watching and picnicking, as well as organised activities such as rowing and fishing. In 2003, Castle Island gained status as a Local Nature Reserve and Wansbeck Riverside Park gained Local Nature Reserve status in 2007.

There are car parks located at Blackclose Dene (just off Stakeford Bridge, A196 heading north to Ashington) and the main car park off the Wellhead Dene road (accessed from the A1068 – Sheepwash road).

You may spot a red squirrel, bank vole, fox, or roe deer. On a summer evening, bats can also be seen. On the river you might see a mallard, moorhen, heron or the bright blue flash of the kingfisher. In the rest of the park, you may see or hear a blue tit, chiffchaff, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch or robin.

In the spring and summer, plant lovers may find red campion, primrose, forget-me-not, foxglove, orchids, meadow crane’s-bill and yarrow. The area of woodland at Blackclose Dene is listed as ancient semi-natural woodland and is of significant national importance. Within the woodlands are species of scots pine, oak, elder, ash and sycamore. New woodland has been planted on the south side of the river at Stakeford.

There is a large play area for the kids and riverside walks either to Stakeford Bridge in one direction or Sheepwash Bridge in the other. The Pantry is a café that sells breakfast food, snacks, sandwiches and drinks, has customer toilets and is open from 9am until 4pm most days. There is disabled access from the main riverside path. At the time of our visit there was also an ice cream kiosk and a mobile pizza van.