Bishop Middleham Quarry Walk
This walk takes you to the Bishop Middleham Quarry near Sedgefield, County Durham.
The quarry is located about half a mile north of the village of Bishop Middleham. At the site you will find some nice footpaths and a nature reserve with a variety of interesting flora and fauna. The magnesian limestone quarry is managed by the Durham Wildlife Trust and is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its unique habitats and species.
You can follow a country lane to the site from the village or there is some roadside parking on the eastern side of the reserve. The terrain includes uneven paths and open areas, with remnants of the quarry's industrial past evident in the landscape. As you explore, you'll encounter a variety of habitats, including grasslands, scrub, and wooded areas. The quarry's elevated sections provide vantage points with views over the surrounding countryside, offering a glimpse into the natural beauty of County Durham.
The quarry's magnesian limestone substrate supports a rich array of plant life. Notably, it is home to several orchid species, including the rare dark red helleborine and bee orchid. Other notable plants include moonwort and blue moor-grass. In the damper areas, wild strawberries can be found, adding to the site's botanical diversity.
The diverse plant life supports a variety of fauna, particularly insects. The site attracts large numbers of butterflies, such as dingy skipper, common blue, small heath, ringlet, small copper, and one of the county's largest colonies of the rare Durham brown argus butterfly, best seen in June and July.
Postcode
DL17 9EE - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsBishop Middleham Quarry Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Bishop Middleham Quarry Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Bishop Middleham Quarry OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Bishop Middleham Quarry Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area head to Hardwick Hall Country Park. The park includes a 17-acre lake and a number of ornamental features, including temples, grottoes and follies.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Bishop Middleham Quarry Nature Reserve. The site includes many species of moth, such as six-spot burnet, wood tiger, and hummingbird hawk moth. Birdlife is abundant, with both farmland and woodland species present. The quarry is well known as the site where European bee-eaters successfully bred in 2002. Additionally, the area is frequented by blackcaps, whose distinctive calls can be heard throughout the woodland.
Bishop Middleham Quarry
Re-working Bishop Middleham Quarry
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Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) at Bishop Middleham Quarry SSSI