Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk
County Durham
This walk skirts the River Wear through James Steel Park and follows the public riverside trail past the boundary of WWT Washington Wetland Centre. It is a relaxed dog friendly stretch of north east river, with tall poplars, reed beds and the usual heron, kingfisher and swans you would expect on the Wear, and the bonus of the wetland centre's wild reserve drifting past you behind the fence.
Important: dogs are not permitted inside the WWT Washington reserve itself, so this route stays on the public footpaths of James Steel Park and the Wear riverside corridor, where dogs are welcome under close control. Keep them on the lead near the water, the slipway and the Victoria Viaduct foundations, and pick up along the whole route. Paths are level tarmac and compacted stone, fully buggy friendly, and James Steel Park has a free car park with play areas and open grass nearby.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- River, Park
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Play areas and open grass at James Steel Park, seasonal cafe at WWT Washington (accessible to paying visitors without dogs), pubs in Fatfield.
- Parking
- Free car park at James Steel Park off Pattinson Road, plus WWT Washington car park for reserve visitors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome on the public riverside path through James Steel Park and along the River Wear corridor, making it a pleasant stretch for a relaxed walk with your dog. It's worth knowing that the WWT Washington Wetland Centre reserve itself does not permit dogs, so this route sticks to the public footpaths outside the reserve boundary. The paths are level tarmac and compacted stone, and there's a free car park at James Steel Park off Pattinson Road.
Can dogs be off lead at Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk?
Dogs are welcome but should be kept under close control throughout, and the advice is to keep them on the lead near the water's edge, the slipway, and around the Victoria Viaduct foundations. The route does have open grass areas in James Steel Park nearby, which gives a little more room to stretch legs, but this isn't a dedicated off-lead space. Given the riverside wildlife — herons, kingfishers and swans are regularly spotted along this stretch of the Wear — keeping dogs leashed near the water is particularly important.
What should I know before visiting Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk with my dog?
The key thing to be aware of is that dogs are not allowed inside the WWT Washington reserve itself — this walk follows the public footpaths along the outside of the reserve boundary, which is where dogs are permitted. The paths are fully pushchair friendly and the free car park at James Steel Park off Pattinson Road is a convenient starting point. There are pubs in nearby Fatfield if you're after a post-walk stop, though the seasonal café at WWT Washington is only accessible to paying visitors entering the reserve, which rules it out for dog owners.
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