Tees Barrage & Stockton

Sitting on our most northerly river, the River Tees, is our own angelic attraction of the north – the Tees Barrage.

It's part of a newly formed Tees Barrage Park that pulls together the barrage structure itself, the Tees Active white water course and the nearby nature reserves on the north and south side of the river managed by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.

All of these features – the barrage, the activity centre, two nature reserves – are well interlinked with cycle ways / footpaths winding though.

What the barrage has created is truly inspiring and well worth a visit. A rediscovered heritage and a rejuvenated community all start their stories around our Tees Barrage. The vital statistics are indeed incredible:

• £55 million to build
• 70 metres wide
• 50 tonne fish belly gates holding back the tide

Things to see and do

Places to eat:

• Tees Barrage Cafe
• The Talpore
• Infinity Marine Cafe
• Premier Inn

Boat trips:

• The Tees Princess goes from Stockton to Tees heritage park
• Rivershack

Picnic spot:

There is a good grassy area for a picnic

Trails:

• Airtrail (technically part of the White Water Centre but a different website)
• Circular canoe trail

Wildlife spotting:

While there's plenty of places to spot swans, ducks, as well as our new wildlife garden, at Tees you can see something alittle more ocean-going. Seals, and sometimes, whales swim up river to the barrage! Take to the towpaths to find not one but two nature reserves connected to the Tees Barrage Park: Maze Park and Portrack Marsh both cared for by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.

Planning your visit

Getting here