Rainton Meadows, Yorkshire Dales National Park
#115 among attractions in Yorkshire Dales National Park
Facts and practical information
Rainton Meadows is a nature reserve just to the west of East Rainton, County Durham, north-east England. The reserve, which covers 60 ha, and the adjacent Joe's Pond Site of Special Scientific Interest, are managed by Durham Wildlife Trust. ()
Best Ways to Experience the Place
Wildlife
AnimalsSee what popular animal species you can meet in this location.
Mute swan
The mute swan is a magnificent bird native to much of Eurasia and the northern parts of Africa. Over the years, it has also established populations in North America, Australasia, and southern Africa. First scientifically described in 1789, the mute swan is easily...
BirdsEuropean hare
The European hare, commonly known as the brown hare, is a captivating species native to Europe and parts of Asia. As one of the largest hare species, it thrives in temperate, open landscapes. These herbivores primarily feed on grasses and herbs, and must stay vigilant...
MammalsEuropean Roe Deer
The European roe deer, also known as the western roe deer, chevreuil, or simply roe, is a small and resilient species well-suited to colder climates. With their distinctive reddish and grey-brown coats, these deer are easily identifiable.
MammalsShort-eared owl
The short-eared owl is a captivating bird belonging to the genus Asio. It earns its name from the tufts of feathers on its head that resemble ears, although these "ears" are not always visible unless the owl adopts a defensive posture.
BirdsEuropean water vole
The European water vole, often referred to as the northern water vole or simply the water rat, is an endearing semi-aquatic rodent renowned for its rounded snout, rich brown fur, plump face, and tiny, fuzzy ears. In the wild, these small creatures lead relatively short...
Mammals
Rainton Meadows – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)
Nearby attractions include: The Forbidden Corner, Aysgarth Falls, Addlebrough, Coverdale.
- 6.1 miNEAmusement park, Theme park
The Forbidden Corner, Yorkshire Dales National Park
155 min walk • Nestled in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park lies a unique and enchanting attraction that promises a day of adventure and discovery: The Forbidden Corner. This whimsical amusement park in Coverham, England, is a delightful maze of gardens, tunnels...
- 4 miNNatural attraction, Park, Waterfall
Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales
102 min walk • Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of waterfalls, surrounded by woodland and farmland, carved out by the River Ure over an almost one-mile stretch on its descent to mid-Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales of England, near the village of Aysgarth.
- 5.1 miNWMountain
Addlebrough, Yorkshire Dales
131 min walk • Addlebrough is a fell in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England. It is 481 m high. Bronze Age inhabitants built homes and enclosures on the fell's southern slopes.
- 3.8 miENature, Natural attraction, Valley
Coverdale, Yorkshire Dales National Park
96 min walk • Coverdale is a dale in the far east of the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England. It takes its name from the River Cover, a tributary of the River Ure.
- 4.4 miSENature, Natural attraction, Lake
Angram Reservoir
114 min walk • Angram Reservoir is the first of three reservoirs on the River Nidd in Upper Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England, the others being Scar House Reservoir and finally the compensation reservoir Gouthwaite Reservoir.
- 5.3 miSNature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Great Whernside, Yorkshire Dales National Park
135 min walk • Great Whernside is a fell in the Yorkshire Dales, England, not to be confused with Whernside, some 17 miles to the west. Its summit is the highest point of the eastern flank of Wharfedale above Kettlewell.
- 3.6 miSWNature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Buckden Pike, Yorkshire Dales National Park
92 min walk • Buckden Pike is a fell at the head of Wharfedale, a valley in the Yorkshire Dales, that stands above the village of Buckden. At 702 metres, it narrowly misses out on being the highest peak in the area, the title instead going to nearby Great Whernside.
- 4.7 miSENature, Natural attraction, Lake
Scar House Reservoir
120 min walk • Scar House Reservoir is the second of the three reservoirs in Upper Nidderdale, England, the others being Angram Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir. Between them they attract around 150,000 visitors a year. Angram and Scar House were built to supply water to the Bradford area of West Yorkshire, England.
- 6 miWChurch
St Matthew's Church, Yorkshire Dales
152 min walk • St Matthew's Church, Stalling Busk is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Stalling Busk, North Yorkshire.
- 5.1 miSWNature, Natural attraction, Valley
Wharfedale, Buckden
131 min walk • Wharfedale is the valley of the upper parts of the River Wharfe and one of the Yorkshire Dales. It is situated within the districts of Craven and Harrogate in North Yorkshire, and the cities of Leeds and Bradford in West Yorkshire. It is the upper valley of the River Wharfe.
- 3.3 miSENature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Little Whernside
84 min walk • Little Whernside is a hill in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England, 2.82 miles north east of Great Whernside. It is on the boundary between the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and forms part of the watershed between Coverdale and Nidderdale.