Photo: Robert Graham · CC BY-SA 2.0Almost everyone in Castleside lives within a 5-minute walk of a park
The North Pennines National Landscape reaches the edge of Castleside. Parks and playing fields in Castleside add up to 0.9 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. 24 km of footpaths run through the village and the kilometre around it, 3.0 for every square kilometre. Castleside grades B+ for the outdoors. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
What kind of outdoors village is Castleside?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Castleside’s strongest suit is parks close to every home, followed by protected countryside on the doorstep. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Castleside grades B+ for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Castleside, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
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Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Castleside is 13th of 60 UK villages its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 1,500 to 1,600 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Against villages its size, Castleside stands out most for path per km²: only 13 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 53 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashurst Wood West Sussex | A+ | 4 | 100% | 3.4 | 81% |
| 2 | Ewhurst Surrey | A | 4.3 | 76% | 4.6 | 46% |
| 3 | Newfield County Durham | A | 8.3 | 100% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 4 | Haverigg Cumbria | A | 4.7 | 67% | 2.5 | 11% |
| 5 | North Bradley Wiltshire | A | 3.4 | 100% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 6 | Collett's Green Worcestershire | A | 3.5 | 100% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 7 | Littleton Hampshire | A− | 7.8 | 100% | 1.1 | 10% |
| 8 | Llanrug Gwynedd | A− | 1.7 | 100% | 1.7 | 6% |
| 9 | Longwick Buckinghamshire | B+ | 2 | 100% | 2.3 | 31% |
| 10 | Temple Cloud Somerset | B+ | 2.6 | 77% | 3.9 | 15% |
| 11 | Blackhall Mill County Durham | B+ | 3.4 | 100% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 12 | Kimpton Hertfordshire | B+ | 3.7 | 100% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 13 | Castleside County Durham | B+ | 0.9 | 100% | 3 | 42% |
| 14 | Caer-went Gwent | B+ | 1.8 | 100% | 0.8 | 8% |
| 15 | Great Bowden Leicestershire | B+ | 6.1 | 100% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 16 | Ramsbury Wiltshire | B+ | 3.9 | 62% | 2.3 | 100% |
| 17 | Offenham Worcestershire | B+ | 2.4 | 100% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 18 | Kensworth Bedfordshire | B | 1.8 | 79% | 3 | 59% |
| 19 | Burford Oxfordshire | B | 3.5 | 84% | 1.2 | 53% |
| 20 | Tideswell Derbyshire | B | 1.5 | 100% | 1.6 | 97% |
| 21 | Potterne Wiltshire | B | 1.3 | 77% | 5.1 | 8% |
| 22 | South Godstone Surrey | B | 2 | 100% | 1.8 | 5% |
| 23 | Bridge Kent | B− | 2.2 | 60% | 2.7 | 44% |
| 24 | Foxhole Cornwall | B− | 2.9 | 100% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 25 | Collingtree and Milton Malsor Northamptonshire | B− | 4.9 | 83% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 26 | Carharrack Cornwall | C+ | 0.7 | 80% | 4.2 | 2% |
| 27 | Gilfach Goch Mid Glamorgan | C+ | 2.9 | 100% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 28 | Mylor Bridge Cornwall | C+ | 1.1 | 63% | 1.2 | 49% |
| 29 | Langley Vale Surrey | C+ | 0.8 | 53% | 5.5 | 7% |
| 30 | Gretton Northamptonshire | C+ | 2.3 | 100% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 31 | Bassingham Lincolnshire | C+ | 2.2 | 100% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 32 | Anna Valley and Upper Clatford Hampshire | C | 2.2 | 77% | 3 | 0% |
| 33 | Sibsey Lincolnshire | C | 2.4 | 100% | 0.2 | 0% |
| 34 | Kingsley Cheshire | C | 3.4 | 81% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 35 | Flitton Bedfordshire | C | 1.4 | 49% | 3.3 | 6% |
| 36 | Geddington Northamptonshire | C | 3 | 82% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 37 | Horndon on the Hill Essex | C | 3.5 | 81% | 1.1 | 0% |
| 38 | Freeland Oxfordshire | C | 1.4 | 53% | 2.6 | 17% |
| 39 | Waresley Worcestershire | C | 1.7 | 100% | 1 | 0% |
| 40 | Alveley Shropshire | C− | 5.4 | 51% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 41 | Glapwell Derbyshire | C− | 2.2 | 60% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 42 | Haslingfield Cambridgeshire | C− | 2 | 80% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 43 | Yalding Kent | C− | 7.1 | 21% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 44 | Sandleheath Hampshire | C− | 0.1 | 0% | 2.6 | 52% |
| 45 | Tidbury Green West Midlands | C− | 2.4 | 49% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 46 | Greens Norton Northamptonshire | C− | 1.2 | 66% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 47 | Dalston Cumbria | C− | 3.4 | 66% | 0.9 | 0% |
| 48 | Braunston Northamptonshire | D | 1.8 | 50% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 49 | Croft Cheshire | D | 1.1 | 79% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 50 | Heighington County Durham | D | 2.6 | 64% | 0.4 | 0% |
| 51 | Tetney Lincolnshire | D | 1.5 | 79% | 1.1 | 0% |
| 52 | Broadclyst Devon | D | 1.4 | 78% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 53 | Newton-with-Scales Lancashire | D | 1.4 | 76% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 54 | Camblesforth North Yorkshire | D | 0.3 | 81% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 55 | Aberford West Yorkshire | D− | 1.3 | 22% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 56 | Burton Green Warwickshire | D− | 0 | 0% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 57 | Gayton Norfolk | D− | 1.6 | 62% | 0.8 | 0% |
| 58 | Leasingham Lincolnshire | D− | 1.3 | 50% | 0.9 | 0% |
| 59 | South Broomhill Northumberland | D− | 0 | 0% | 0.5 | 0% |
| 60 | Great Bricett Suffolk | D− | 1.2 | 0% | 1.4 | 0% |
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Castleside’s built-up area.
How close Castleside’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees.
National Parks and National Landscapes around Castleside
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
North Pennines
42% of the land within 5 km of Castleside is National Park or National Landscape, more than 89% of UK towns. Northumberland National Park covers 1,051 km² and has been a National Park since 1957.
3 waymarked walks pass through or near Castleside
24 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Castleside and the kilometre around it, 3.0 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the village.
Close to home, the Consett Steel and Swords has 8 km of local walk within 2 km of the village. The regional route here is the Way of Light.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
The best walking months in Castleside: June to September
The village’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 7.8 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 14.0 | 16.1 | 17.3 | 16.8 | 14.9 | 12.6 | 10.3 | 8.3 | 7.2 |
| High (°C) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 6 |
| Rain (mm) | 76 | 73 | 60 | 61 | 54 | 71 | 67 | 78 | 70 | 79 | 90 | 84 |
May is the driest month (54 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 19 °C). Winter days are short, about 7 hours of daylight in December, and 90 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 57 nights a year. The climate in Castleside →
2 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the village in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK village its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Castleside is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the village.
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Waterfalls 6
Picnic sites 5
Plus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 2
Plus 2 playgrounds without a name on the map.
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleside | B+ | 0.9 | 100% | 42% |
| Consett 1.9 mi | B | 1.7 | 87% | 19% |
| Leadgate 3.2 mi | C+ | 1.5 | 91% | 1% |
| Medomsley 4.1 mi | C | 1.6 | 100% | 0% |
| Blackhall Mill 5.1 mi | B+ | 3.4 | 100% | 0% |
| Lanchester 5.2 mi | D | 1.4 | 70% | 0% |
| Annfield Plain 5.6 mi | B+ | 3.4 | 93% | 0% |
Annfield Plain, 5.6 miles away, grades B+, the best next door: 93% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Blackhall Mill and Annfield Plain have at least twice Castleside’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Castleside
Is Castleside near a National Park?
Yes. Northumberland National Park begins 17 mi north-west of the village’s edge. It covers 1,051 km² and has been a National Park since 1957. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the North Pennines National Landscape, at the edge of the village.
What are the best walks near Castleside?
3 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the village, including the Way of Light, Consett Steel and Swords and Consett Heritage Trail.
What is the nearest beach to Castleside?
Shingle Beach, 11 mi from the edge of the village, then Shingles (11 mi). Castleside itself is inland.
How many people in Castleside live near a park?
100% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Castleside?
June to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Castleside good for walking?
About average for paths: 3.0 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 59% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 11% (0.9 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Castleside’s overall grade.
Where Castleside’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.