Thornley Woods Sculpture Trail

Thornley Woods is part of the bigger Derwent Walk Country Park in Gateshead, which is a huge 18km long. There are maps online if you want to plan your visit, but you'll be spoilt for choice on what to see.

Thornley Woods is about half way along the country park and the sculpture trail is a 0.8km walk around Paddock Hill Wood. It's a fairly flat, easy wander with around 10 sculptures to see, all created by wood sculptor Tommy Craggs. It will take around 20-30 minutes to complete the walk.

The trail was created in 2011 and Tommy used fallen trees to make his sculptures. There are badgers, butterflies, otters and probably the stand-out sculpture on the trail, a huge Red Kite - the iconic bird of the Derwent Valley.

You can pick up a sculpture trail leaflet from Thornley Woodlands Centre and while you're there, you can have a cuppa too. You can also pick up a hide key here for around £5 if you fancy doing some twitching. The nearest hide is just across the road over the A694, but the key also gives you access to hides at Shibdon Pond, Clara Vale, Lamesley Pastures and Far Pastures (also on the Derwent Walk).