Blyth’s biggest
Ridley Park
Park or garden
5.3 ha (13 acres)1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
7 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi eastfrom the centre
3 playgrounds 1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Graham Robson · CC BY-SA 2.0BOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Blyth · parks, paths & countryside
Blyth is on the coast, on the King Charles III England Coast Path
The sea makes up 35% of the area within 5 km. Parks and playing fields in Blyth add up to 1.6 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. 94 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 2.8 for every square kilometre. Blyth grades B for the outdoors: #11 of 20 in Northumberland. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
1.6 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
83%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
94 km
2.8 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Northumberland Coast National Landscape
The sea
35%
of the area within 5 km
A coastal town
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Blyth?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
On the coast35% of the area within 5 km is sea; 12 beaches mapped.On a National TrailThe King Charles III England Coast Path passes through.Less park per person1.6 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1.
Blyth’s strongest suit is the sea, followed by the King Charles III England Coast Path. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Outdoors grade
Blyth grades B for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Blyth, 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 56% of UK towns#11 of 20 in Northumberland · 42nd of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.6 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
33out of
100
100
A park within a walk83%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
53out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · None within 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths2.8 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
54out of
100
100
The sea35%of the area within 5 km
94out 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
Blyth is 42nd of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 34,800 to 45,200 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
Blyth2.8
Towns its size3.8
Northumberland towns2.3
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Blyth1.6
Towns its size2.6
Northumberland towns2.0
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Blyth83%
Towns its size84%
Northumberland towns80%
All UK towns83%
Blyth falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 50 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 | Wrexham Clwyd | A | 3.8 | 92% | 3.9 | 2% |
| 5 | Epsom Surrey | A | 5.7 | 80% | 4.8 | 2% |
| 6 | Aldershot Hampshire | A | 3.4 | 77% | 6.3 | 17% |
| 7 | Skelmersdale Lancashire | A | 7.8 | 91% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 8 | Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan | A | 3.3 | 89% | 3.2 | 29% |
| 9 | Haywards Heath West Sussex | A | 2.4 | 84% | 4.2 | 44% |
| 10 | Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex | A | 1.7 | 83% | 3.4 | 13% |
| 11 | Ilkeston Derbyshire | A | 3.7 | 98% | 5 | 0% |
| 12 | Bletchley Buckinghamshire | A | 4.1 | 91% | 5.9 | 0% |
| 13 | Llanelli Dyfed | A− | 2.3 | 85% | 2.4 | 18% |
| 14 | Trowbridge Wiltshire | A− | 2.3 | 91% | 4.3 | 3% |
| 15 | Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire | A− | 4.3 | 94% | 4 | 0% |
| 16 | Accrington Lancashire | A− | 2.6 | 79% | 5.6 | 0% |
| 17 | Chorley Lancashire | A− | 5 | 88% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 18 | Bamber Bridge Lancashire | A− | 6.4 | 88% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 19 | Hoddesdon Hertfordshire | A− | 6.5 | 82% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 20 | Exmouth Devon | A− | 1.4 | 82% | 2.6 | 21% |
| 21 | Leyland Lancashire | B+ | 4.6 | 91% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 22 | Cheshunt Hertfordshire | B+ | 4.8 | 79% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 23 | Chippenham Wiltshire | B+ | 2.8 | 76% | 3.9 | 7% |
| 24 | Newbury Berkshire | B+ | 1.9 | 81% | 3.3 | 50% |
| 25 | Hatfield Hertfordshire | B+ | 2.8 | 84% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 26 | Fleet Hampshire | B+ | 3.3 | 79% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 27 | Hucknall Nottinghamshire | B+ | 3 | 87% | 4 | 0% |
| 28 | Aberdare Mid Glamorgan | B+ | 4.6 | 84% | 1.8 | 19% |
| 29 | Rowley Regis West Midlands | B+ | 4.1 | 71% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 30 | Hitchin Hertfordshire | B+ | 1.5 | 83% | 4.4 | 10% |
| 31 | Batley West Yorkshire | B+ | 2.7 | 94% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 32 | West Bridgford Nottinghamshire | B+ | 2.2 | 86% | 7.7 | 0% |
| 33 | Arnold Nottinghamshire | B | 3 | 81% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 34 | Whitley Bay Tyne and Wear | B | 1.9 | 82% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 35 | Warwick Warwickshire | B | 3 | 85% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 36 | Denton Greater Manchester | B | 2.4 | 88% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 37 | Bishop's Stortford Hertfordshire | B | 2.3 | 80% | 6.8 | 0% |
| 38 | Ramsgate Kent | B | 1.2 | 89% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 39 | Borehamwood Hertfordshire | B | 1.8 | 97% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 40 | Prescot Merseyside | B | 3.5 | 94% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 41 | Bicester Oxfordshire | B | 2.1 | 99% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 42 | Blyth Northumberland | B | 1.6 | 83% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 43 | Fareham Hampshire | B | 1.1 | 48% | 4 | 2% |
| 44 | Chadderton Greater Manchester | B | 1.9 | 87% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 45 | Redcar North Yorkshire | B− | 2.6 | 79% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 46 | Bury St Edmunds Suffolk | B− | 3 | 78% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 47 | Oldbury West Midlands | B− | 3 | 68% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 48 | Eccles Greater Manchester | B− | 2.7 | 93% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 49 | Lytham St Anne's Lancashire | B− | 2.4 | 83% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 50 | Canvey Island Essex | B− | 1.5 | 86% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 51 | Tonbridge Kent | B− | 2.1 | 65% | 2.6 | 38% |
| 52 | Braintree Essex | B− | 1.7 | 89% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 53 | Camberley Surrey | C+ | 2 | 73% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 54 | Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire | C+ | 1.5 | 85% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 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 | Grays Essex | C | 1.2 | 83% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 59 | Worksop Nottinghamshire | C− | 1.3 | 75% | 3 | 0% |
| 60 | Grantham Lincolnshire | D | 0.9 | 69% | 2.7 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Blyth’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 Blyth
The biggest is Ridley Park, 5.3 ha (13 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 5 named parks by size: 13 ha (31 acres) and 2 km of path
Parks & gardens 7.5 haPlaying fields 5.1 haPlay spaces 0.2 ha
The two biggest, Ridley Park and South Newsham Pavillion, are 82% of the named green space.
South Newsham Pavillion
Playing field
5.1 ha (13 acres)
7 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Beach Gardens
Park or garden
2.1 ha (5 acres)0.4 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Millfield Gardens Young Persons Play Area
Play space
0.0 ha (0 acres)
1 mi northfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
8 in 10 Blyth 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 (83%)Further (17%)
Blyth83%
Towns its size84%
Northumberland towns80%
All UK towns83%
About 7,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 41 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 969 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The Northumberland Coast National Landscape is 13 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
Blyth is on the King Charles III England Coast Path
94 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Blyth and the kilometre around it, 2.8 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
National
King Charles III England Coast Path: South Bents to Amble19.2 km
The King Charles III England Coast Path, a national route, passes Blyth.
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 Blyth: 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) | 7.7 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 14.0 | 16.1 | 17.4 | 16.8 | 15.0 | 12.6 | 10.3 | 8.3 | 7.2 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 48 | 42 | 40 | 48 | 40 | 61 | 62 | 67 | 54 | 63 | 75 | 57 |
March is the driest month (40 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 20 °C). Winter days are short, about 7 hours of daylight in December, and 75 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 22 nights a year. The climate in Blyth →
The coast
The coast and beaches near Blyth
35% of the area within 5 km of Blyth is sea. 12 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 4 with a name.
North Beach0.2 mi from town
DirectionsSouth Beach0.5 mi from town
DirectionsNewbiggin Beach2.0 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
41 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
Hills and peaks 2
Isabella Heap33 m (108 ft) · in town
DirectionsPlus 1 peak without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
Outfall Weir1.1 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 41
Briardale Kids Parkin town
DirectionsBriardale Toddler Parkin town
DirectionsHigh Street Junior Play Areain town
DirectionsJunior Play Parkin town
DirectionsKids Rope Swingin town
DirectionsMillfeld Gardens Young Persons Play Areain town
DirectionsPlayparkin town
DirectionsToddler Play Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 33 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Briardale Community Dog Clubin town
DirectionsNext door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
New HartleyBedlingtonCramlingtonSeaton SluiceSeaton DelavalStakefordBlyth
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blyth | B | 1.6 | 83% | 0% |
| New Hartley 2.4 mi | A− | 1.9 | 100% | 0% |
| Bedlington 2.6 mi | A | 5.1 | 94% | 0% |
| Cramlington 3.2 mi | B+ | 2.3 | 91% | 0% |
| Seaton Sluice 3.3 mi | A− | 2.2 | 100% | 0% |
| Seaton Delaval 3.3 mi | C+ | 0.5 | 66% | 0% |
| Stakeford 3.9 mi | A+ | 10.0 | 100% | 0% |
Stakeford, 3.9 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Bedlington and Stakeford have at least twice Blyth’s green space per resident. None of the neighbours has a protected landscape within 5 km either.
Questions about the outdoors in Blyth
What is the biggest park in Blyth?
Ridley Park, 5.3 ha (13 acres), with 1.6 km of path. South Newsham Pavillion (5.1 ha) is second. 5 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Blyth near a National Park?
Yes. Northumberland National Park begins 16 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 Northumberland Coast National Landscape, 13 mi away.
What are the best walks near Blyth?
1 waymarked walking route passes within 2 km of the town, including the King Charles III England Coast Path: South Bents to Amble.
How many people in Blyth live near a park?
83% 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 Blyth?
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 Blyth good for walking?
About average for paths: 2.8 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 54% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 33% (1.6 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 Blyth’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Blyth’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.