FINAL DRAFT – JANUARY 2011
Derwent Walk Country Park and Derwenthaugh Park
Accessibility Assessment of Easier Access Route and the Other Park facilities
Introduction
The following notes are based on observations made at site visits on 18 June, 26 July and 26 August 2010. The visits were attended by; Steve Hudson (Gateshead Access Panel), Julie Hudson (Gateshead Access Panel), June Atkinson (Friends of Red Kites), Jackey Lockwood (Friends of Red Kites), Darren Ramshaw (Gateshead Council) and David Rewcastle (Gateshead Council). This report is for users of the easier access route and other facilities at the park and provides them with information about the level of accessibility they will experience at the park.
Easier Access Routes and facilities
The easier access route is a 4 mile circular route that takes in sections of the Derwent Walk, Derwenthaugh Park and The Red Kite Trail. The route can be accessed from Swalwell Visitor Centre, Damhead and Winlaton Mill car parks on the A694. The route links Derwenthaugh Park with the Derwent Walk near to the Nine Arches Viaduct. The route can be accessed by families, people with pushchairs or mobility scooter users. People with walking difficulties, visual impairments and some wheelchair users may need assistance. The route has undulating gradients and rough surfaces in places.
A short circular boardwalk gives limited access to the woodland around Thornley Woodlands Centre, and The Far Pasture observation hide is wheelchair accessible from the adjacent car park. There is no direct easier access route from the Derwent Walk / Derwenthaugh Park to Thornley Woodlands Centre and Far Pasture Hide.
The Derwent Walk Country Park
The Derwent Walk Country Park is a mixture of woodlands, meadows, wetlands, riverside and reclaimed industrial sites all linked by the Derwent Walk. The Derwent Walk is the track-bed of the old Derwent Valley Railway. It is 11 miles (18 km) long and follows the Derwent Valley between Swalwell in the north and Consett in the south.
The Country Park between Swalwell and Rowlands Gill is owned by Gateshead Council. Between Rowlands Gill and Consett the Derwent Walk is owned by Durham County Council.
Derwenthaugh Park
Until 1986,Derwenthaugh Park was the site of the Derwenthaugh Coke Works. Opened in 1928 it took coal from the Chopwell colliery and the resulting coke was shipped from the staithes on the River Tyne at Derwenthaugh. In the 18th and 19th centuries Crowley's Ironworks dominated the site. These were the largest ironworks in Europe at the time. The Coke Works were demolished in 1986 and Gateshead Council reclaimed the site to establish the country park which opened in 1998
Wildlife
The woodlands of the Derwent Valley are home to a wide variety of wildlife – wildflowers such as springtime anemones and celandines, many birds including green and great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and sparrow hawk and the occasional glimpse of animals such as, fox, badger and roe deer. The flowers found in the hay meadows support butterflies like the common blue and meadow brown. The Derwent Walk is home to blackcap, whitethroat, bullfinches and flocks of siskin can be seen feeding in the winter. The River Derwent supports a wide range of wildlife including kingfisher, dipper and otter.
Northern Kites Project
Between 2004 and 2006 ninety four red kites were released into the lower Derwent Valley as part of the Northern Kites Project. Kites began to breed in the north east in 2006 after an absence of 170 years. The Northern Kites Project was managed by English Nature and the RSPB in partnership with Gateshead Council, the National Trust, Northumbrian Water and the Forestry Commission with additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the SITA Environmental Trust. For information telephone 0191 496 1555.
Friends of Red Kites
The Friends Group was established in 2009 to encourage an active interest and community involvement in the protection and welfare of the red kite. For more information contact web site www.friendsofredkites.org.uk
The Countryside Mobility Scheme / Scooter Hire
Scooters are available for hire under the Gateshead Countryside Mobility scheme. Scooters are based at the Swalwell Visitor Centre and can be hired on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10.00am to 3.00pm, Hire cost is £2 for a half day and £4 for a full day. The scheme is only open to members of Gateshead Shopmobility (membership £3 per year). To find out more and to book the scooters telephone Gateshead Shopmobility, Telephone 0191 477 9888.
On return, the scooter should be parked inside the Centre, locked with the security belt and the ignition key returned to a Ranger or put through the letterbox.
Users are recommended to carry a mobile phone with them. If they require assistance, Thornley Woodlands Centre Telephone 01207 545 212.
Swalwell Visitor Centre, telephone 0191 414 2106
Start and finish point for Scooter users:
Located at the Swalwell end of the Derwent Walk on the B6317 beside Blaydon Rugby Club. There is a bus stop beside the access road to the centre. Male, Female and accessible toilets are provided. There is a car park with accessible parking provided. Information and maps are available in the centre. There is direct access to the Derwent Walk, Derwenthaugh Park and Red Kite Trail from the Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is open daily 10 am to 5 pm but is not permanently staffed.
A RADAR key is required to open the accessible toilet door. Operation of the alarm pull cord puts the user in contact with Gateshead Council’s Care Call system who will deal with the call accordingly.
Thornley Woodlands Centre Telephone: 01207 545 212
The Centre is on the A694 near Rowlands Gill. Male and Female toilets are provided but there is no accessible toilet. There is a car park with accessible parking provided. There is no accessible route from Thornley Woodland Centre to The Derwent Walk or Derwenthaugh Park. The centre is open to the public from10 am to 2pm during the week and 12 noon to 5pm at weekends and spring and summer Bank Holidays.
A short circular boardwalk gives limited access to the woodland around Thornley Woodlands Centre.
Far Pasture Hide (Derwent Walk Country Park)
This is a wetland hide about half a mile along the A694 towards Rowlands Gill from the Thornley Woodlands Centre. Take the first left turn (beside the bus lay-by) and follow the narrow surfaced road. After crossing the bridge over the Derwent Walk turn right at the T-junction then go down the hill to the end of the road. There is a car park with accessible parking provided. Car park open 9am to 5pm.
The hide is kept locked and keys are available for purchase from the Thornley Woodlands Centre. The hide is wheelchair accessible.
Car Parks
Accessible parking is available at Swalwell Visitor Centre, Thornley Woodland Centre and Far Pasture Hide. Accessible parking is also available at Damnhead and Winlaton Mill car parks.
Public transport
The 45, 46, 46a and 47 from Newcastle serves the Gateshead section of the Derwent Walk Country Park. There are bus stops on the B6317 outside Blaydon Rugby Club beside the access road to Swalwell Visitor Centre.
There are also bus stops located on the A694. Users should be aware that there is no paved route from these bus stops to the park entry points at Damnhead and Thornley Woodland Centre.
Butterfly Bridge
The site of Butterfly Bridge is close to the easier access route between Winlaton Mill and Clockburn Lake. The bridge was destroyed during the floods of September 2008. The bridge will be reconstructed in the Spring of 2011. Gradients on the route leading down to the bridge from the easier access route will be eased and the path surface will be renewed. The route on the opposite side of the bridge includes several steps, undulating and steep gradients and is rough underfoot in several places.
Kite Hill
Kite Hill is just off the easier access route between Clockburn Lake and Nine Arches Viaduct. Kite Hill is a good viewpoint for observing the kites. The grass track leading to the top of the hill is fairly steep and slippery in places. The route is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Scooter users can use this route but care needs to be exercised when travelling up and down the slope. Care should also be exercised when maneuvering across the top of Kite Hill. Users should be aware of a steep slope at the edge of the summit and scattered boulders.
Nine Arches Viaduct
Nine Arches Viaduct marks the farthest point on the easier access route from Swalwell Visitor Centre. The parapet on the viaduct is approximately 2 metres high so views across the valley are not possible from the viaduct.
Accessibility on the Easier Access Route
The easier access route generally provides a safe environment for all users to experience a countryside site. Users of the route however should be aware of the following issues before using the trail.
Publicity Information:
Pre-visit information is available on Gateshead Council’s web-site www.gateshead.gov.uk , type Derwent Walk into the search engine.
Leaflets and maps are available from the Swalwell Visitor Centre and Thornley Woodland Centre. It is recommended that users take a copy of the map and leaflet with them when using the easier access route. There are many adjoining paths that are unsuitable for scooter use and for some disabled people.
There is a large map of the park in the foyer of Swalwell Visitor Centre. The map however is in need of an update to display public transport links, bus numbers and key landmarks
Signage:
Signs and information boards are placed strategically throughout the park. Users of the easier access route are required to follow the signs displaying the wheelchair logo. These are blue signs with a white logo and are either fixed to posts, signage panels or fences. There are also timber directional signs with green lettering provided at various junctions and other key orientation points. Warning notices to warn of potential hazards such as cyclists approaching at speed are provided in red lettering on timber panels.
Signage provision to mark out the easier access route is generally good. It is however possible for users of the route to miss some signs because of poor colour / tonal contrast with the background or if they are hidden by vegetation. It is recommended that users carry a map with them to confirm their location on the route.
Other Route users
Users of the route should be aware of other users. Cyclists, horses and pedestrians and dogs may all be present on the route. Caution should be shown particularly at path junctions when cyclists may be approaching at speed. Users should also be aware that cyclists may also approach at speed from the rear so should try to drive in a straight a line as possible. It is recommended that scooter users should always keep to the left of the path and look out for other users before making any change in direction.
Users of the route should also be aware of the potential for encountering road vehicles on the route from Blaydon Rugby Club to Swalwell Visitor Centre. Care should be taken when crossing the route on the corner where the access road meets the car park entrance.
Road vehicles will also be encountered where the route meets the entrance to Damnhead Car Park and the Keelman’s Way.
Easier access route users should be aware that the route runs parallel to the cricket club service road. The road itself does not form part of the route.
Gradients and cross falls
The easier access route is generally suitable for families, people with pushchairs or mobility scooter users. People with walking difficulties, visual impairments and some wheelchair users may need assistance. The route however has undulating gradients in places.
Users however should be particularly aware of a steep gradient of 1:8 over the middle of the hump back bridge near Clockburn Lake. It is recommended that scooter users take the route to either edge of the bridge path which is slightly less steep.
Surfacing and gradients on the Derwent Walk section of the route are generally satisfactory. Users however should be aware of a section of path leading back to Swalwell Visitor Centre from Eelhaugh Meadow. Parts of this path have a gradient of 1:12 and there is also a fairly steep cross fall toward the path edge and the valley side.
Surfaces
Surfaces on the easier access route are generally suitable for families, people with pushchairs or mobility scooter users, people with walking difficulties, visual impairments and wheelchair users. It is recommended that users should always keep to the path. The ground especially on the riverbank is uneven in places.
Users however should be aware that they may encounter localised areas of surfaces where the surface may be rough or loose underfoot.. Users also should be aware of a section of path leading back to Swalwell Visitor Centre from Eelhaugh Meadow. The surface on this section is rough and loose over a distance of approximately 200 metres.
Barriers
Users of the easier access route will encounter various barriers. These are known as K Barriers and are provided to prevent illegal motor cycle use in the park. There is a space in the barrier for scooters and wheelchairs to pass through. The narrowest gap is approximately at shoulder level when seated and will be between 610 mm and 620 mm. It is recommended that scooter users allow other route users to negotiate the barrier first and then negotiate the barrier carefully at a slow speed.