Leisure activities

The District of Easington has plenty to offer its residents and visitors, from horse riding, cycling, parachuting to shopping - why not try a new activity today?

Golf Courses

The District of Easington has two golf courses which welcome visitors. Golfers are advised to ring in advance for current Green Fees and any Club restrictions.

Castle Eden and Peterlee Golf Club
Castle Eden
Hartlepool
TS27 4SS
Tel: (01429) 836220

Seaham golf course is possibly the most improved course in the region. It is a bit hilly but, it is a pretty, tidy and testing course with five of the best par threes you could wish to see. Visitors are especially welcome on weekdays, green fees are reasonable, and our Pro will arrange a tee-off time to suit.

Seaham Golf Club
Shrewsbury Street
Seaham
County Durham
SR7 7RD
Professional: Andrew Blunt - Tel: (0191) 5130837
Club House: - Tel: (0191) 5812354
Secretary: Terry Johnson - Tel: (0191) 5811268
E-mail Seaham Golf Club

Paintballing

Massive Attack Paintballing
Seaton
Seaham
County Durham
0870 7661118

Shopping

Dalton Park
Murton
County Durham
SR7 9HU
Tel: (0191) 5266157

Some people just love to shop while others long for the great outdoors.  At Dalton Park you can have it all - and save up to 50% off high street prices on a wide range of top brands.  From designer labels like Joseph to high street favourites like Next Clearance and Marks and Spencer Outlet, Dalton Park makes fashion and homeware affordable for the whole family.  There are over 60 outlet shops to visit, great cafes and restaurants to eat in, a children's play area as well as 55 acres of parkland to explore.  Look out for the fabulous free events and entertainment throughout the year.

Swimming/Leisure Centres

Peterlee Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool
St Cuthberts Way
Peterlee
County Durham
SR8 1AF
Tel: (0191) 5862400

Peterlee Leisure Centre is a large sporting and social venue capable of hosting both national and regional events.  The centre boasts a 25 metre swimming pool as well as a teaching pool, a Health Suits with sauna, steam and sun beds.  Harpers 50 station gym with state of the art technogym equipment, two multi-functional sports halls, squash courts, five a side football and badminton courts.  The centre is also home to the Swim School, Gym School and Soccer School.  Memberships from £5 per week.

Seaham Leisure Centre
Deneside Recreation Grounds
Seaham
County Durham
SR7 8NT
(0191) 581 6366 or (0191) 581 6788

Seaham Leisure Centre is a community sporting and social venue capable of hosting regional and local events.  The centre has a Harpers Gym 30 station with state of the art Technogym equipment, Health Suite with sauna and sun beds, a sports hall for squash and five a side football. Three outdoor football pitches with changing facilities, a gym school and a soccer school.  Membership from £5 per week.

Angling

There is an opportunity for sea angling on the coast, and also stillwater quality fishing in the district, anglers are advised to call to check seasons, and times, competition and availability.

Seaham Sea Angling Club
Clifford House
South Crescent
Seaham
County Durham
(0191) 5810321

Before fishing, anglers must obtain a current Environment Agency rod licence and any permits/tickets required for a particular site. Licences are available from all Post Offices or the Environment Agency's Rod Licence Administration Centre, PO Box 12, Richard Fairclough House, Knutsford Road, Warrington WA4 1HG. Telephone (08708) 506506.

Eden Meadows Coarse Lake Complex
Off B1280 near Trimdon Colliery
County Durham
Tel: Tony on 01429 835836
or 07971 289796

Sharpley Springs & Sharpley Waters
Seaton
Seaham
County Durham
Tel: Mr or Mrs Weightman on (0191) 5818045 or 07860757527

Trout Fishery (Open all Year) 8 Lakes plus a youngsters worm lake. Good disabled access. Tuition available. Cosy anglers lodge with facilities and a coarse fishing lake.

Shotton Claypits
Shotton Colliery
Peterlee
County Durham
Shotton and District Angling Club
Tel: Steve Maitland on (0191) 3784050

Tilery Pond
Wingate
County Durham
Hartlepool and District Angling Club
Tel: Mark on (01429) 274844
Weeks ticket only

Kenny's Pond
Station Town
County Durham
Hartlepool and District Angling Club
Tel: Mark on (01429) 274844
Weeks ticket only

The following free guides include useful information on fishing in County Durham:

North of England Angling Guide
Environment Agency
Tyneside House
Skinnerburn Road
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE4 7AR
Tel: (0191) 2034000

Northumbrian Water Angling Guide
Northumbrian Water
Durham House
Abbey Road
Pity Me
Durham City
DH1 5FJ
Tel: (0870) 2403549

Anglers can access information on the Tees and Wear river flows by telephoning (0906) 6197722.

Cycling

There are principal cycle routes within the District of Easington and connections to the wider region. There are several routes, links, loops and circuits to suit your needs. The Easington Cycleways leaflet is a useful map/guide to the area.

The North Sea Cycle Route also passes through the District and is based on National Cycle Network Routes 1 and 14 along the East Durham Coast. It forms part of a continuous signed route nearly 3,500 miles (5,600km) in length, encircling the North Sea and encompassing seven countries.

For a free copy of the above guides please contact the Tourism Unit at District of Easington.

Easington's Primary Care Trust runs organised cycle tours around Murton, bikes are available to loan free of charge, booking is essential, for further details please ring (0191) 5208650 or (0191) 5269199.

Sustrans have organised lots of summer events, for details of cycle rides please contact the Sustrans Information Line on (0845) 1130065.

For all your cycling needs with the biggest range of cycles and accessories in the area why not try

Strawberry Cycles
Unit 12
Lister Road
North West Industrial Estate
Peterlee
Co Durham
Tel: 0191 5871729

Heritage, Mining, Art Gallery/Exhibitions

Scissors, Paper, Stone
Tel: (01429) 836010

Seaton Holme Discovery Centre - The district's oldest, regularly programmed art gallery doubles as a heritage centre displaying material ranging from mining memorabilia to local traces of medieval agriculture. The gallery displays work from artists around the region and has a display of various crafts, including jewellery, pottery and woodwork. Admission is free.

Seaton Holme Discovery Centre
Hall Walks
Easington Village
Co Durham
Tel: (0191) 5273333

Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre - A great place to visit to gain a flavour of the past times of this former pit village and earlier agricultural traditions in the area. The centre's main focus is on the domestic and social life of the mining families in 1919, it includes a model of the village at that time, a reconstruction of a mining kitchen and models dressed in historic costume. Opening hours are 10am - 12noon and 2pm-4pm Tuesday and Thursday; and 2pm-4pm on Saturday.

Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre
Quilstyle Road
Wheatley Hill
Co Durham
Tel: (01429) 824402

Durham Mining Museum - The museum aims to preserve the heritage and culture of mining in the North East of England. There are exhibits, information and memorabilia and most of the volunteers are ex-miners who can relate the experiences and memories of working deep in the bowels of the earth. The centre is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-4pm and can be opened at other times for groups by arrangement with Mr Lambeth on 07799260995.

Durham Mining Museum
Thornley Community Centre
Front Street
Thornley
Co Durham

Greyhound Racing

Moorfield Stadium Limited
Sunderland Road
Easington
Co Durham
Tel: (0191) 5270256

Gardening

Plants 'R' Ross
South Hetton Road
Easington
Co. Durham
Tel: (0191) 5270855

Large selection of rockery plants, bamboos and grasses.  Everything you need for your garden - compost, bark mulch, gravel and pots and hardy exotics.

Richardsons Garden Centre and Restaurant
Stockton Road
Cold Hesledon
Seaham
County Durham
Tel: 0191 5818181

One of the region's largest garden centres, with a huge selection of plants and gardening supplies, composts and gravels.  The centre also has a large aquatic department with cold water, tropical and marine fish.  Latest addition is a fully stocked reptile department with tanks, vivariums and livestock.  We also boast a large hunting and shooting section with clothing from Baretta, Garlands, Mad Dog, and Realtree. Boots by Muckboot Co., Grubs & La Cross with ammunition and accessories also available from Hun, Gamebore, Winchester, Victory and lots more.  The centre also has a very large restaurant, which prides itself on home cooked food as is open 7 days a week - so a garden centre with a difference - ideal for the whole family to enjoy.

Horse Riding

Crimdon Pony World
Coast Road
Blackhall Colliery
Hartlepool
TS27 4BL
Tel: (01429) 267635
Mobile: 07863556150

Crimdon Pony World is set on the Durham Heritage Coast in Crimdon Dene and is the only Ofsted registered riding school in the country and is one of the few kids clubs that is registered to provide holidays and overnight stays for children under eight year old.  It also provides riding lessons and trekking for adults and caters for over 60 schools and social groups and offers riding to numerous disabled groups, schools and individuals.  The staff has equestrian and childcare qualifications and are all CRB checked.  Pony World has direct access to the beach and Crimdon Dene for rides through stunning landscapes and seascapes with attendant flora and fauna.

Whitegates Equestrian Centre
South Hetton
County Durham
Prop. Mrs S Lincoln
(0191) 5265888

Highling Equestrian Centre
Durham Road
Haswell
County Durham
Prop. Miss L. Atkinson
(0191) 5261199

Edenwell Equestrian Centre
Castle Eden
County Durham
Prop. Mr and Mrs Bentham
07966 141950
07866 809780

Edenwell offers 5 star luxurious accommodation for your horse, professional and friendly environment with BHS qualified staff, deluxe purpose built stables with automated drinkers. We cater for Full/DIY/Part Livery to suit your personal needs. Riding Lessons - all abilities catered for from Beginners to Advanced - Age 4 to adults, nervous riders welcome. Large indoor and outdoor areas.

Low Fallowfield Stables and Riding School
South Hetton
County Durham
Prop Mr J McGeorge
(0191) 5173563

Walking

The District has plenty to discover on foot, whether for the family rambler or the experienced long distance walker. Along the coast, the Durham Coastal Footpath is an 11 mile (18km) waymarked route from Seaham to Crimdon. For an illustrated guide to the route, please contact the Tourism Unit at District of Easington. The unit also supplies a series of leaflets, each describing a walk around one of the district's settlements.

Another enjoyable walk can be taken through the National Nature Reserve at Castle Eden Dene, the largest of Durham's wooded coastal ravines. There is an education office which offers a service for organised groups. For further information contact Oakerside Dene Lodge.

Health For All organises a 'Get Active Get Walking' scheme in the district. For further information contact Health For All on (0191) 5269199.

A programme of Countryside Events is organised by the County Council's Ranger Service. For details of guided walks/events please contact:

Sites Rangers and Ecology Section
Environment
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
Tel: (0191) 3834144

The National Trust organises some walks along the Durham Coast. For further details please contact (0191) 5813905.

Seaham Walkers Group: For further information contact Seaham Parks Department on (0191) 5812943.

Peterlee Rambling Club: For further details contact Walter Taylor on (01429) 835995.

Skydiving/Parachuting

Ever fancy skydiving or parachuting? Why not try a RAPS Static Line, Tandem or Accelerated Free Fall Parachute Course? For further information, prices and bookings please contact the

Skydive Academy
Peterlee Parachute Centre
Airfield
Shotton Colliery
Co Durham
DH6 2NH
Tel/Fax: (0191) 5171234
E-mail: enquiries@skydiveacademy.org.uk

Children's Activities

Why not gather the family and try out one of County Durham's newest fun-filled attractions. The animal farm has all the animals you would expect to see on a farm and lots of petting animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. There are also exotic animals for you to enjoy such as racoons, emus, prairie dogs, wallabies and even a monkey too. The farm also has a kids play area which should keep them busy while you relax with a cup of tea. Contact Denise or Peter Wayman for further details on events, opening times and prices.

Tweddle Children's Animal Farm
Fillpoke Lane
Blackhall Colliery
TS27 4BT
Tel: (0191) 5863311

Children's Indoor Play Areas

Fun Shack

The North's Largest Indoor Adventure Playground - A Kids Krazy Kingdom, 19,000 square feet of indoor fun for kids up to 12 years old or 4ft 11. Disabled access and facilities. Indoor football/basketball pitch area, trampolines, toddlers soft play area, a mini cinema, and video games station. Comfortable lounge and dining areas with daily papers, with food and drink available from the Snack Shack. Baby changing and bottle warming available. Special themed rooms are available for childrens parties, special discounts for schools and large groups, for further details please contact:

Unit 1
Hall Dene Way
Seaham Grange Industrial Estate
Seaham
County Durham
SR7 0PU
Tel: (0191) 5214853