Hetton Lyons Country Park is a picturesque park situated just on the outskirts of Hetton Le Hole on the Durham/Sunderland border, and is jointly managed by Springboard and Sunderland City Council.
The park features a water sports lake with activities ran by Springboard Adventure, fishing lakes, football pitches, orienteering course, play area and is also part of the national cycling network.
Springboard manages the park in partnership with Sunderland City Council and has done since 2003. Springboard supports and coordinates the parks activities and events through a booking process that links up with the City Councils Events Team; if you would like to learn about running events and activities in the park please email adventure@springboard-ne.org
The events and activities that run in the park are large and small, as small as five people and as large as 5000 people! In recent years we have hosted The Transplant Games, the World Cyclo Cross Championships, the Hetton Carnival and the Annual Dragonboat Race. In between, thousands of small groups and individuals access the park for cycling, walking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and open water swimming.
The park is home to the Hetton Hawks Cycling Club, Roker Canoe Club and Ryton Triathlon Club as well as local schools, businesses and youth organisations, Springboard works with everyone to make the best safe use of the park.
Our dedicated volunteers come in to help with the work in the park each week taking on some of the more technical projects and some of the less popular!
The park has held the standard of Green Flag for a number of years and this is completely down to the dedication of everyone involved, particularly within Springboard and Sunderland City Council but also our partner organisations that support, with the range of positive activities that take place across the park all year round.
The Lakes Cafe at Hetton Lyons Country Park
Based in the main Springboard Adventure centre at Hetton Lyons Country Park and ran by Springboard staff and volunteers is The Lakes Cafe, selling a selection of snacks and hot drinks.
The Lakes Cafe is disability and dog friendly.
The Lakes Cafe is open 7 days a week, Monday to Sunday 9am-3pm, except bank holidays and over the Christmas period.
People’s Pedal Power
Ran from the park every Friday is People’s Pedal Power, adapted cycling for those with physical and mental disabilities. People’s Pedal Power takes place between 10am and 1pm and is priced at £5 per bike per hour. Medical forms must be completed before riding. For any group bookings outside of these hours, please get in touch with John Pooley on jpooley@springboard-ne.org
Down at the Pit
This is a project set up for men in the area who would like to be involved in some gardening, park maintenance, meeting new people and having a brew, sandwich and chat with people who they may not get to see if they didn’t come to the park. They are also to able to mend bicycles and ride bikes in the park as part of the Peoples Pedal Power Project.
Around once per month the group head out on a visit to a local landmark or attraction where we have some food and explore a new area.
Segway Events
Take to the Segway course on these environmentally friendly, fun-filled machines as you navigate the twists, turns and uneven surface of this spectacular venue! A fun-filled experience, a Segway Event is a fantastic day for people of all ages as you control the speed of the Segway with your own weight! Offering 3 different experiences there’s something for everyone!
