Guisborough Forest and Walkway Visitor Centre Improvements

Guisborough Forest Walkway operates as a gateway for families, outdoor pursuit enthusiasts and local residents to access beautiful, un spoilt forest, moorland and national park. The Visitor Centre is ideally situated at the entrance to the walkway from the car park and provides toilet and baby change facilities, café and picnic area, as well as a recycling centre, bike wash-off, outdoor performance / educational area. A variety of educational and ‘Forest Schools’ opportunities are delivered throughout the year. A scheme funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority will shortly join one end of the walkway to Nunthorpe and enable improved access to onward cycle routes into Middlesbrough, providing an opportunity to access the walkway from further afield and increasing the level of use and passing trade for the café.

The entrance to the visitor centre car park will also be reconfigured to improve accessibility. Currently, the sharp turn near a blind summit bridge makes navigation challenging. Enhancing this entryway will create a more welcoming arrival experience.

Construction on the Guisborough Forest and Walkway Visitor Centre is scheduled to begin in October, with completion targeted for Spring 2026 with a Construction Contractor appointed. The project will see the café’s footprint doubled, while sustainability features such as air source heat pumps and solar panels will be incorporated. Improved pathways will also strengthen the connection between the forest walkway and Guisborough town centre, making the site more accessible for visitors.

The visitor centre and café will remain open until mid-November. After closure, toilet facilities will still be accessible via external toilet blocks. Please note that a small section of the pathway outside the visitor centre will be closed, but a detour will be available around the carriageway.