Dogging sites
Dogging in Tyne and Wear
From Big Waters and St Mary's Lighthouse to Chopwell Wood, Washington and Marsden, the best-known dogging spots in Tyne and Wear, with a map for each.
Tyne and Wear packs a lot into a small county: nature reserves and woods on the edge of Newcastle, forest car parks up the Derwent valley, quiet lanes around Washington, and a coastline of lighthouses and clifftops from Tynemouth down to Ryhope. The area even has its own film, the 2009 comedy Dogging: A Love Story, with scenes shot at the Angel of the North, on the Quayside and at St Mary's Lighthouse. The love story may be made up, but the dogging around here certainly isn't.
Below, the county is divided into four areas, with a map under every spot. A few are mostly gay cruising spots, and we say so where that is the case. In daylight these are walkers' and families' places, so each entry notes the time things tend to get going. Places change over the years, so think of this as a guide to where to look rather than a promise.
Newcastle and North Tyneside
Nature reserves and woods on the northern edge of Newcastle, a couple of city parks, and the car parks along the coast from the Fish Quay to St Mary's Lighthouse.
Big Waters nature reserve, Brunswick Village
The most talked-about spot north of the Tyne: a secluded car park surrounded by trees, half a mile down the lane from the road between Wideopen and Brunswick Village. It has been on the lists for twenty years, with couples and single men from about 9.30pm until midnight, Saturday nights the busiest, and the odd bit of daytime action midweek. Still getting mentioned in 2026.
Havannah nature reserve, Hazlerigg
Behind the airport off Coach Lane, with two car parks and easy access to the woodland, and plenty of discreet places just off the main paths. Best at weekends, with some action most nights. Even the local parish council called its car park a notorious dogging area in 2025.
Gosforth Park
A big stretch of woodland and rhododendron bushes by the racecourse, with a car park off Great Lime Road. Mostly gay, but bi-curious guys and doggers turn up too, especially on warm evenings. There is also a grassy lay-by past the racecourse and golf clubs that couples and singles use from dark until late, mostly at weekends.
Brenkley Lane woods, near Dinnington
Out in the countryside north of Newcastle, with room for about five cars by a farm gate on Brenkley Lane and an avenue of trees across the road leading up to long grass and bushes. A summer spot, from May to October, afternoons and evenings, mostly gay but with some dogging, and no houses nearby.
View on Google Maps · what3words ///eggplants.primed.stole
Newburn Riverside car parks
Past the sports centre and down the unlit road to the car parks by the river. Quiet and secluded, and on the doggers' go-to lists since 2006, still getting recommended in 2026 as a great place to show off your partner.
Exhibition Park, Newcastle
Behind the old museum and along by the railway, singles and couples day and night according to our members, and named again in a Chronicle Live round-up in 2025. Families use the park by day, so this one is strictly for later on.
Leazes Park, by Barrack Road
Mostly a gay cruising spot: the dense bushes and woods at the south-west corner of Leazes Park, along Barrack Road next to St James' Park. Nearest parking is the St James' Park car park on Barrack Road. Afternoons, evenings and after dark, and keep it to the bushes only.
View on Google Maps · what3words ///beside.castle.stars
St Mary's Lighthouse car parks, Whitley Bay
The best-known spot on the coast, with two car parks looking out to the lighthouse. Flash your lights and drive in on sidelights. It has made the local paper more than once, the latest in 2025, and the council has been keeping an eye on the car parks, so keep it late and discreet. It even had a part in the 2009 film Dogging: A Love Story.
View on Google Maps · South car park on Google Maps
Priors Haven car park, Tynemouth
Head down towards the car parks by the Priory and turn right into the dark one rather than going straight on to the car park by the cliffs, which gets night fishermen and boy racers. Only the first two hours are free, so keep an eye on the clock or expect a charge.
North Shields Fish Quay, Low Lights car park
Down Tanners Bank towards the Fish Quay, the car park looking out over the Black Middens rocks in the river, with bushes at the far end. The action picks up once the local businesses have closed for the day.
Gateshead and the Derwent valley
Forest car parks out west in the Derwent valley, a couple of quiet spots on Team Valley, and wild woodland near the MetroCentre and the quayside.
Chopwell Wood car park
The main car park at Chopwell Wood, 360 hectares of forest on the edge of Gateshead. Weekends after dark, when anything goes. The car park is open all night but not lit, so bring a torch.
Rowlands Gill car park, Derwent Walk
A secluded car park in Rowlands Gill by the Derwent Walk. The ground is bumpy and walkers use it during the day, so wait until later.
Cross Lane woods, Dunston
Mostly a gay cruising spot, but some couples go too: a huge, fenced-off area of woods and bushes. Park in the lay-by where Cross Lane meets Wellington Road, then look for the pink flag in the trees on the right. Busy in daylight, mornings to early evening, all year round, and keep it inside the woods.
View on Google Maps · what3words ///patio.slips.paid
Mandela Way woods, by the MetroCentre
Another mostly gay cruising spot, with the occasional dogger: a big area of bushes and woods on the wasteland off Mandela Way, a minute's walk from the lay-bys. Afternoons and evenings, all week.
View on Google Maps · what3words ///vouch.path.freed
Pipewellgate car park and the Rabbit Banks arches
The riverside car park on the Gateshead side of the Tyne, where a regular saw a couple in a car with a small audience on a Sunday night. A couple of minutes' walk along the river, under the King Edward VII bridge, the old railway arches at Rabbit Banks are mostly a gay cruising spot.
View on Google Maps · The Rabbit Banks arches on Google Maps
Fifth Avenue Business Park, Team Valley
Over the little footbridge from the shops with the chippy and pizza place. Usually a couple of cars there most nights once it gets dark.
Sunderland, Washington and Houghton
Country lanes around Washington and Boldon, a long lay-by on the A690, country parks, the Ryhope clifftops and a car park by the beach at Seaburn.
Follingsby Lane, Wardley
The lane between Wardley and Washington, near the Nissan plant, mostly men meeting men but with some doggers. Flash your brake lights. Police stepped up patrols here in 2013, so keep your wits about you.
West Pastures, East Boldon
A rural lane running south off the A184 near the Testo's roundabout, with places to pull in and paths into hidden fields. Doggers and cruising guys in the evening, often on the way home from work. Park up and walk, and keep it in the fields rather than on the lane.
Stephenson industrial estate, Washington
The lay-by by the football pitches on the Stephenson industrial estate, turning off by the Northumbria Centre. Day and after dark, and the regulars say more couples are welcome.
Crowther Road, Washington
A small car park on the right of Crowther Road, near the Holiday Inn and next to the allotments, with plenty of woods around it. A few cars after dark.
James Steel Park and the Fatfield riverside
The riverside park along the Wear at Fatfield, and the dark lane by the river opposite the Biddick pub. A 2012 round-up in the Sunday Sun called the car parks around here quiet areas where you don't get disturbed, but we are still getting good reports that the site is active, mostly weekend evenings.
Houghton Cut lay-by, A690
A long lay-by on the northbound A690, about 0.7 miles up the hill from Houghton-le-Spring towards Sunderland, separated from the main road and with room for about forty cars. The lay-by is just for parking: from the middle of it a path leads up the bank into the bushes and woods behind, which are used for dogging and gay cruising.
View on Google Maps · what3words ///hiding.deny.tame
Hetton Lyons Country Park
The top car park at the end of the industrial estate, weekdays from about 8pm, with straight and bi fun. Named in a Chronicle Live round-up in 2025.
Silksworth ski slope
The car park at the sports complex and ski slope, on Friday and Saturday nights after 10pm.
Ryhope Dene, on foot
The woods and bushes of Ryhope Dene, south of Sunderland, with a well-known den in the bushes further down towards the sea. This one is a walk-in: park considerately on the streets in Ryhope village, such as Seaview or Regent Road, and take the footpath into the dene where the map shows. Mostly gay, but couples too, and someone is usually around.
Morrisons Seaburn, the back car park
The back car park at Morrisons in Seaburn, just by the beach and in total darkness at night. It only gets busy once Morrisons has closed, so leave the shoppers to it.
South Shields and Whitburn
The clifftop car parks along the coast between South Shields and Whitburn.
Marsden Grotto car park
Described as the famous spot in Shields: the car park by the Marsden Grotto, in total darkness at night. Use your brake lights to get things going. This spot was featured in Chronicle Live's 2025 round-up of the North East's dogging hotspots. Stay well back from the cliff edge.
Souter Lighthouse and Lizard Point, Whitburn
The National Trust car parks by Souter Lighthouse and Lizard Point. The Sunderland Echo reported couples there as soon as the car park reopened after the winter, after the warden spotted it being promoted online.
Before you go
Most of these spots see dog walkers and day-trippers until dusk, so leave them be until it is dark. Arrive without fuss, give anyone who is just there for the view a wide berth, and leave nothing behind but tyre tracks.
Find dogging sites in other counties: Dogging sites across the UK
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ID verified EnigmaticCaregiver21b3a5, 50
Bradford
We're a fun couple in an open relationship, seeking like-minded gents to join our escapades. Whether it's a night out at the club or a cheeky outdoor adventure, we love to explore and indulge in our desires. Curves, nudism, and playful nights are just a few of our favourite things. If you're up for some lively nights filled with laughter and a bit of kink, let’s chat!
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ConfidentFoodieijhcif, 30
Saint Johns Wood
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Bristol
I'm down for hookup content and meet up, fun, sex and also for sex chat.
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Ashley, 37
London
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Northampton
Male 55 & female 44 in a very happy long term relationship, looking to explore with other likeminded m/f couples or single females. For couple swap or mff threesome. Newbies!
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Newton Mearns
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Olton
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Manchester
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Wrexham
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Glasgow
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London
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ID verified SilverScorpion, 55
Southam
A charismatic Scorpio with a penchant for kink, I’m ready to dive deep into adventures that tantalise and excite. With a taste for outdoor escapades and a desire for both casual hookups and thrilling long-distance fun, I believe life is too short to hold back. If you’re seeking someone to spice things up and keep your heart racing, I just might be your perfect match!
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