Redcar’s biggest
Locke Park
Park or garden
8.7 ha (22 acres)4.2 km of path
55 minto walk all 4.2 km of path
12 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi north-westfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0B−Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Redcar · parks, paths & countryside
Redcar is on the coast, on the King Charles III England Coast Path
The sea makes up 40% of the area within 5 km. The North York Moors National Park begins 4.0 mi from the town’s edge. Footpaths add up to 75 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 1.9 for every square kilometre. Redcar grades B− for the outdoors: #22 of 54 in North Yorkshire. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.6 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
79%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
75 km
1.9 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
North York Moors starts 4.0 mi out, past the 5 km
The sea
40%
of the area within 5 km
A coastal town
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Redcar?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
On the coast40% of the area within 5 km is sea; 9 beaches mapped.Countryside close byThe North York Moors National Park starts 4.0 mi south.On a National TrailThe King Charles III England Coast Path passes through.
Redcar’s strongest suit is the sea, followed by the North York Moors National Park close by.
Outdoors grade
Redcar grades B− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Redcar, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B−
Better than 54% of UK towns#22 of 54 in North Yorkshire · 47th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space2.6 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
61out of
100
100
A park within a walk79%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
46out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · North York Moors begins just past 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths1.9 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
27out of
100
100
The sea40%of the area within 5 km
96out 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
Redcar is 47th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 33,800 to 42,100 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
Redcar1.9
Towns its size3.8
North Yorkshire towns2.0
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Redcar2.6
Towns its size2.6
North Yorkshire towns1.7
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Redcar79%
Towns its size84%
North Yorkshire towns80%
All UK towns83%
Redcar falls furthest behind on path per km², where 56 of the 59 others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Locks Heath Hampshire | A+ | 3.5 | 91% | 3.7 | 4% |
| 2 | Dover Kent | A+ | 3 | 86% | 2.9 | 29% |
| 3 | Hyde Greater Manchester | A | 4.3 | 91% | 3.9 | 1% |
| 4 | Epsom Surrey | A | 5.7 | 80% | 4.8 | 2% |
| 5 | Aldershot Hampshire | A | 3.4 | 77% | 6.3 | 17% |
| 6 | Skelmersdale Lancashire | A | 7.8 | 91% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 7 | Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan | A | 3.3 | 89% | 3.2 | 29% |
| 8 | Haywards Heath West Sussex | A | 2.4 | 84% | 4.2 | 44% |
| 9 | Ilkeston Derbyshire | A | 3.7 | 98% | 5 | 0% |
| 10 | Rustington West Sussex | A− | 2.1 | 78% | 2.7 | 25% |
| 11 | Dunstable Bedfordshire | A− | 2 | 78% | 8 | 29% |
| 12 | Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire | A− | 4.3 | 94% | 4 | 0% |
| 13 | Accrington Lancashire | A− | 2.6 | 79% | 5.6 | 0% |
| 14 | Chorley Lancashire | A− | 5 | 88% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 15 | Nelson Lancashire | A− | 1.8 | 85% | 5.2 | 15% |
| 16 | Bamber Bridge Lancashire | A− | 6.4 | 88% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 17 | Didcot Oxfordshire | A− | 1.6 | 88% | 3.8 | 39% |
| 18 | Hoddesdon Hertfordshire | A− | 6.5 | 82% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 19 | Exmouth Devon | A− | 1.4 | 82% | 2.6 | 21% |
| 20 | Leyland Lancashire | B+ | 4.6 | 91% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 21 | Waterlooville Hampshire | B+ | 1 | 66% | 5.2 | 18% |
| 22 | Chippenham Wiltshire | B+ | 2.8 | 76% | 3.9 | 7% |
| 23 | Fulwood Lancashire | B+ | 3.5 | 87% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 24 | Hatfield Hertfordshire | B+ | 2.8 | 84% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 25 | Swadlincote Derbyshire | B+ | 4.1 | 84% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 26 | Fleet Hampshire | B+ | 3.3 | 79% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 27 | Pudsey West Yorkshire | B+ | 1.9 | 94% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 28 | Hucknall Nottinghamshire | B+ | 3 | 87% | 4 | 0% |
| 29 | Aberdare Mid Glamorgan | B+ | 4.6 | 84% | 1.8 | 19% |
| 30 | Rowley Regis West Midlands | B+ | 4.1 | 71% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 31 | Hitchin Hertfordshire | B+ | 1.5 | 83% | 4.4 | 10% |
| 32 | West Bridgford Nottinghamshire | B+ | 2.2 | 86% | 7.7 | 0% |
| 33 | Wigston Leicestershire | B | 2.9 | 88% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 34 | Arnold Nottinghamshire | B | 3 | 81% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 35 | Billingham County Durham | B | 4.7 | 86% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 36 | Whitley Bay Tyne and Wear | B | 1.9 | 82% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 37 | Warwick Warwickshire | B | 3 | 85% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 38 | Denton Greater Manchester | B | 2.4 | 88% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 39 | Letchworth Hertfordshire | B | 2.2 | 85% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 40 | Bishop's Stortford Hertfordshire | B | 2.3 | 80% | 6.8 | 0% |
| 41 | Ramsgate Kent | B | 1.2 | 89% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 42 | Borehamwood Hertfordshire | B | 1.8 | 97% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 43 | Bicester Oxfordshire | B | 2.1 | 99% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 44 | Prescot Merseyside | B | 3.5 | 94% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 45 | Blyth Northumberland | B | 1.6 | 83% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 46 | Chadderton Greater Manchester | B | 1.9 | 87% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 47 | Redcar North Yorkshire | B− | 2.6 | 79% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 48 | Bury St Edmunds Suffolk | B− | 3 | 78% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 49 | Eccles Greater Manchester | B− | 2.7 | 93% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 50 | Canvey Island Essex | B− | 1.5 | 86% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 51 | Tonbridge Kent | B− | 2.1 | 65% | 2.6 | 38% |
| 52 | Camberley Surrey | C+ | 2 | 73% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 53 | Billericay Essex | C+ | 4.1 | 70% | 3 | 0% |
| 54 | Horndean Hampshire | C+ | 0.9 | 57% | 3.3 | 53% |
| 55 | Urmston Greater Manchester | C+ | 1.7 | 79% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 56 | Neath West Glamorgan | C | 2 | 80% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 57 | Long Eaton Derbyshire | C | 1.8 | 74% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 58 | Bridlington East Riding of Yorkshire | C | 0.8 | 80% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 59 | Bilston West Midlands | C− | 1.5 | 76% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 60 | Bromsgrove Worcestershire | C− | 1.4 | 75% | 2.6 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Redcar’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 Redcar
The biggest is Locke Park, 8.7 ha (22 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 8 named parks by size: 60 ha (149 acres) and 13 km of path
Parks & gardens 28 haPlaying fields 32 ha
The biggest is Locke Park, 8.7 ha (22 acres); no single park dominates.
Coatham Green
Park or garden
7.4 ha (18 acres)3.9 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.9 km of path
10 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi north-westfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Mo Mowlam Memorial Park
Playing field
17 ha (41 acres)0.3 km of path
24 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Mackinlay Park
Playing field
16 ha (39 acres)
22 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Borough Park
Park or garden
4.9 ha (12 acres)1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
7 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Redcar
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Zetland Park
Park or garden
3.5 ha (9 acres)1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
5 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.7 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Coatham Enclosure
Park or garden
2.5 ha (6 acres)0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1 mi northfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Lily Park
Park or garden
0.8 ha (2 acres)0.5 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.5 km of path
0.9 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
8 in 10 Redcar residents live within a 5-minute walk of 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 (79%)Further (21%)
Redcar79%
Towns its size84%
North Yorkshire towns80%
All UK towns83%
About 8,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 21 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 1,794 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The North York Moors National Park is 4.0 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
Protected landscape begins just outside the 5 km ring the Outdoors Grade measures, so Redcar scores 0% on it even though the North York Moors National Park is 4.0 mi away. North York Moors National Park covers 1,441 km² and has been a National Park since 1952.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Redcar is on the King Charles III England Coast Path
75 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Redcar 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.
NationalRegional
King Charles III England Coast Path: Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge13.6 km
Teesdale Way (Middlesbrough to Warrenby)4.9 km
King Charles III England Coast Path: Newport Bridge to North Gare0.3 km
The King Charles III England Coast Path, a national route, passes Redcar. The regional route here is the Teesdale Way (Middlesbrough to Warrenby).
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 Redcar: May to 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 | 16.0 | 17.2 | 16.7 | 14.9 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.3 | 7.3 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 46 | 40 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 58 | 54 | 67 | 47 | 55 | 68 | 58 |
March is the driest month (37 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 21 °C). Winter days are short, about 7 hours of daylight in December, and 68 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 20 nights a year. The climate in Redcar →
The coast
The coast and beaches near Redcar
40% of the area within 5 km of Redcar is sea. 9 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 3 with a name.
Coatham Sands0.7 mi from town
DirectionsMarske Sands1.3 mi from town
DirectionsSaltburn Sands2.8 mi from town
DirectionsThe King Charles III England Coast Path passes the town.
Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.
Things to do
21 playgrounds
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.
Every named place, with directions
Picnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 21
Borough Park Children's Play Areain town
DirectionsLocke Park Children's Play Areain town
DirectionsRainbow Parkin town
DirectionsZetland Park Children's Play Areain town
DirectionsPlus 17 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Plus 3 slipways 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.
New MarskeMarske-by-the-SeaSaltburn-by-the-SeaEstonSkelton (Redcar and Cleveland)GuisboroughRedcar
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redcar | B− | 2.6 | 79% | 0% |
| New Marske 2.2 mi | A− | 4.4 | 90% | 0% |
| Marske-by-the-Sea 2.2 mi | C | 1.6 | 66% | 0% |
| Saltburn-by-the-Sea 3.9 mi | A | 4.7 | 92% | 0% |
| Eston 4.4 mi | B+ | 2.9 | 93% | 2% |
| Skelton (Redcar and Cleveland) 4.8 mi | B+ | 1.7 | 82% | 9% |
| Guisborough 5.1 mi | B− | 1.5 | 80% | 35% |
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 3.9 miles away, grades A, the best next door: 92% of its residents live within 400 m of a park.
Questions about the outdoors in Redcar
What is the biggest park in Redcar?
Locke Park, 8.7 ha (22 acres), with 4.2 km of path. Coatham Green (7.4 ha) is second. 8 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Redcar near a National Park?
Yes. North York Moors National Park begins 4.0 mi south of the town’s edge. It covers 1,441 km² and has been a National Park since 1952.
What are the best walks near Redcar?
3 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the King Charles III England Coast Path: Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge, Teesdale Way (Middlesbrough to Warrenby) and King Charles III England Coast Path: Newport Bridge to North Gare. Locke Park alone has 4.2 km of path.
How many people in Redcar live near a park?
79% 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 Redcar?
May to July and September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Redcar 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 61% (2.6 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 Redcar’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Redcar’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.