Leadgate’s biggest
Eden Park
Playing field
2.0 ha (5 acres)0.2 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Leadgate
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Robert Graham · CC BY-SA 2.0C+Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Leadgate · parks, paths & countryside
91% of Leadgate’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
The North Pennines National Landscape begins 2.8 mi from the town’s edge. 17 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 1.9 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Leadgate add up to 1.5 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Leadgate grades C+ for the outdoors: #35 of 52 in County Durham. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
1.5 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
91%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
17 km
1.9 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
1%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: North Pennines National Landscape
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Leadgate?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Countryside close byThe North Pennines National Landscape starts 2.8 mi west.Less park per person1.5 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1.
Leadgate’s strongest suit is the North Pennines National Landscape close by. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Outdoors grade
Leadgate grades C+ for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Leadgate, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
C+
Better than 36% of UK towns#35 of 52 in County Durham · 33rd of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.5 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
28out of
100
100
A park within a walk91%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
68out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape1%of the land within 5 km
63out of
100
100
Footpaths1.9 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
27out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
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.
Towns its size
Leadgate is 33rd of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 3,200 to 3,500 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Leadgate1.9
Towns its size2.4
County Durham towns3.0
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Leadgate1.5
Towns its size1.9
County Durham towns2.1
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Leadgate91%
Towns its size78%
County Durham towns88%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Leadgate stands out most for homes near a park: only 14 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on path per km², where 41 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minchinhampton Gloucestershire | A+ | 5.6 | 91% | 5.3 | 90% |
| 2 | Silsoe Bedfordshire | A+ | 6.6 | 100% | 3.8 | 2% |
| 3 | Goring Oxfordshire | A+ | 3 | 100% | 3.2 | 98% |
| 4 | Bakewell Derbyshire | A | 5.5 | 91% | 2.7 | 98% |
| 5 | Talke and Talke Pits Staffordshire | A | 16.6 | 100% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 6 | Broadwell and Coalway Gloucestershire | A | 2.8 | 72% | 5.5 | 38% |
| 7 | Elsenham Essex | A− | 3 | 100% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 8 | Neyland Dyfed | A− | 3 | 93% | 1.2 | 13% |
| 9 | Birdwell South Yorkshire | A− | 3.6 | 90% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 10 | Addingham West Yorkshire | B+ | 1.8 | 93% | 3 | 32% |
| 11 | Newlyn Cornwall | B+ | 1.5 | 67% | 3.2 | 24% |
| 12 | St Agnes Cornwall | B+ | 1 | 81% | 3 | 5% |
| 13 | Mickletown West Yorkshire | B+ | 3.3 | 93% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 14 | Elton Cheshire | B | 1.9 | 100% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 15 | Madeley Staffordshire | B | 3.8 | 100% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 16 | Whalley Lancashire | B | 1.2 | 88% | 3.5 | 23% |
| 17 | Walton West Yorkshire | B | 12.3 | 78% | 3 | 0% |
| 18 | Treeton South Yorkshire | B | 4.4 | 63% | 5.3 | 0% |
| 19 | Fishbourne West Sussex | B | 1.9 | 38% | 2.5 | 47% |
| 20 | Westerham Kent | B | 1.9 | 61% | 3.5 | 66% |
| 21 | Fernhill Heath Worcestershire | B | 3.2 | 88% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 22 | Caddington Bedfordshire | B | 1.3 | 81% | 3.6 | 33% |
| 23 | Hemingford Grey Cambridgeshire | B | 1.9 | 100% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 24 | Sunniside Tyne and Wear | B | 2.1 | 87% | 4 | 0% |
| 25 | Istead Rise Kent | B− | 1.9 | 82% | 2.7 | 15% |
| 26 | Pangbourne Berkshire | B− | 2.9 | 61% | 2 | 85% |
| 27 | Ruabon Clwyd | B− | 3.8 | 69% | 1.9 | 20% |
| 28 | Dunton Green Kent | B− | 1 | 82% | 2.7 | 69% |
| 29 | Stalham Norfolk | B− | 1.9 | 85% | 2 | 23% |
| 30 | Fishguard Dyfed | C+ | 0.8 | 64% | 2.1 | 23% |
| 31 | Highley Shropshire | C+ | 3.4 | 73% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 32 | Pegswood Northumberland | C+ | 1.3 | 100% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 33 | Leadgate County Durham | C+ | 1.5 | 91% | 1.9 | 1% |
| 34 | Marlow Bottom Buckinghamshire | C | 0.5 | 40% | 3.4 | 50% |
| 35 | Ashburton Devon | C | 1.7 | 74% | 1 | 60% |
| 36 | Somersham Cambridgeshire | C | 2.7 | 81% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 37 | Earls Colne Essex | C | 1.4 | 91% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 38 | Bedale North Yorkshire | C | 3.6 | 78% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 39 | Alvechurch Worcestershire | C | 2.2 | 84% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 40 | Adderbury and Twyford Oxfordshire | C | 1.7 | 89% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 41 | Laceby Lincolnshire | C | 1.6 | 64% | 2.1 | 18% |
| 42 | Eastchurch Kent | C | 1.9 | 72% | 0.6 | 0% |
| 43 | Nettleham Lincolnshire | C | 4.2 | 74% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 44 | Sapcote Leicestershire | C− | 2.4 | 67% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 45 | Bishopthorpe North Yorkshire | C− | 3.2 | 51% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 46 | Astwood Bank Worcestershire | C− | 0.9 | 79% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 47 | Talbot Green Mid Glamorgan | D | 0.7 | 66% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 48 | Wadhurst East Sussex | D | 0.9 | 19% | 1.2 | 100% |
| 49 | Chapel St Leonards Lincolnshire | D | 0.4 | 53% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 50 | Messingham Lincolnshire | D | 3.4 | 46% | 0.6 | 0% |
| 51 | Eglwys-Brewis South Glamorgan | D | 0.3 | 0% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 52 | Iver Buckinghamshire | D | 1.3 | 60% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 53 | Cherry Willingham Lincolnshire | D | 1 | 79% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 54 | Spixworth Norfolk | D | 0.6 | 59% | 1.2 | 5% |
| 55 | Heckington Lincolnshire | D | 1.4 | 68% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 56 | New Tredegar Gwent | D− | 1.4 | 68% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 57 | Headcorn Kent | D− | 1.6 | 48% | 1 | 0% |
| 58 | Dunnington North Yorkshire | D− | 0.8 | 44% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 59 | Upper Tean Staffordshire | D− | 0.6 | 60% | 0.8 | 0% |
| 60 | Bawtry South Yorkshire | D− | 0.5 | 49% | 1 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Leadgate’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Leadgate
The biggest is Eden Park, 2.0 ha (5 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
Close to home
How close Leadgate’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).
Within 400 m (91%)Further (9%)
Leadgate91%
Towns its size78%
County Durham towns88%
All UK towns83%
About 300 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 6 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 557 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The North Pennines National Landscape is 2.8 mi away
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.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
Northumberland National Park covers 1,051 km² and has been a National Park since 1957.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
1 waymarked walk passes through or near Leadgate
17 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Leadgate and the kilometre around it, 1.9 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
Local
Consett Steel and Swords0.5 km
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Leadgate: June, July and September
The town’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 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 6 |
| Rain (mm) | 65 | 65 | 56 | 62 | 55 | 73 | 69 | 81 | 70 | 79 | 90 | 86 |
May is the driest month (55 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 49 nights a year. The climate in Leadgate →
Things to do
6 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Leadgate is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Shingle Beach8.1 mi from Leadgate’s edge
DirectionsShingles8.3 mi from Leadgate’s edge
DirectionsHendon Beach17 mi from Leadgate’s edge
DirectionsHerd Sand18 mi from Leadgate’s edge
DirectionsGraham's Sand18 mi from Leadgate’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Up high. Pontop Pike, at 313 m, is the highest named top within 2 km of Leadgate.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Leadgate Maze viewing platformin town
DirectionsHills and peaks 1
Pontop Pike313 m (1,026 ft) · 1.1 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 6
Plus 6 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
ConsettMedomsleyDiptonAnnfield PlainBlackhall MillCastlesideLeadgate
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leadgate | C+ | 1.5 | 91% | 1% |
| Consett 1.4 mi | B | 1.7 | 87% | 19% |
| Medomsley 1.6 mi | C | 1.6 | 100% | 0% |
| Dipton 2.5 mi | B | 3.2 | 87% | 0% |
| Annfield Plain 2.6 mi | B+ | 3.4 | 93% | 0% |
| Blackhall Mill 2.9 mi | B+ | 3.4 | 100% | 0% |
| Castleside 3.2 mi | B+ | 0.9 | 100% | 42% |
Annfield Plain, 2.6 miles away, grades B+, the best next door: 93% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Dipton, Annfield Plain and Blackhall Mill have at least twice Leadgate’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Leadgate
What is the biggest park in Leadgate?
Eden Park, 2.0 ha (5 acres). 1 named park, garden or playing field is in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Leadgate near a National Park?
Yes. Northumberland National Park begins 18 mi north-west of the town’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, 2.8 mi away.
What are the best walks near Leadgate?
1 waymarked walking route passes within 2 km of the town, including the Consett Steel and Swords.
What is the nearest beach to Leadgate?
Shingle Beach, 8.1 mi from the edge of the town, then Shingles (8.3 mi). Leadgate itself is inland.
How many people in Leadgate live near a park?
91% 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 Leadgate?
June, July and September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Leadgate good for walking?
Paths are thinner than most towns: 1.9 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 27% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 28% (1.5 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 Leadgate’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Leadgate’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.