Durham Drone No-Fly Zones & Airspace Map
Can you fly a drone in Durham? Only with permission in much of the area — the centre of Durham sits inside the HMP Durham Flight Restriction Zone, where flying any drone requires approval from the aerodrome operator before flight. Outside the FRZ boundary, UK Open-category rules apply: hold a valid CAA Flyer ID (required for drones 100 g and over since 1 January 2026), keep below 400 ft (120 m), and check for active NOTAMs and protected sites. UK Drone Map displays drone no-fly zones, airspace classifications, Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs), NOTAMs, and conservation designations for the Durham area, a city in England. Data is sourced from NATS, OpenAIP, Natural England, NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales, and other official UK bodies.
Open the map for Durham →Flight Restriction Zones near Durham
Durham is inside the HMP Durham FRZ. Permission from the aerodrome operator is required before any drone flight within the zone.
- HMP Durham FRZ — 0.6 km
- HMP Frankland/low Newton FRZ — 3.4 km
- HMP Holme House FRZ — 28.6 km
- Newcastle RWY 07 FRZ — 29.4 km
Notable airspace & designations within 30 km of Durham
NNR features
- CASSOP — 6.6 km
- THRISLINGTON — 10.6 km
- CASTLE EDEN DENE — 17.4 km
- DURHAM COAST — 20.6 km
- DERWENT GORGE AND MUGGLESWICK WOODS — 23.2 km
- TEESMOUTH — 29.7 km
Ramsar Wetland features
- Northumbria Coast — 17.1 km
- Northumbria Coast — 17.3 km
- Northumbria Coast — 17.5 km
- Northumbria Coast — 17.7 km
- Northumbria Coast — 18.4 km
- Northumbria Coast — 19.9 km
Restricted Area features
- Hartlepool (EGR446) — 29.9 km
Airspace types shown near Durham
UK Drone Map displays the following official airspace classifications in the Durham area:
- FRZ (Flight Restriction Zone) — designated volumes around aerodromes, sourced from NATS
- CTR (Control Zone) — controlled airspace from the surface upward around an aerodrome
- ATZ (Aerodrome Traffic Zone) — zone protecting aircraft in the aerodrome circuit
- MATZ (Military ATZ) — zone around military aerodromes, typically 5 nm radius
- TMA (Terminal Manoeuvring Area) — controlled airspace at junctions of airways
- CTA (Control Area) — controlled airspace above a minimum altitude
- Danger / Restricted / Prohibited areas — various restricted volumes
- NOTAMs — temporary notices from UK AIS covering UAS ops, obstacles, hazards
Conservation designations in the Durham region
The following statutory conservation designations are displayed on UK Drone Map:
- SSSI — Sites of Special Scientific Interest (England, Wales, Scotland)
- SAC — Special Areas of Conservation
- SPA — Special Protection Areas (bird habitats)
- Ramsar — Wetlands of international importance
- AONB / NSA — Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty / National Scenic Areas
- National Parks — National Park boundaries
- National Trust — National Trust land
- Royal Parks — Royal Parks (where applicable)
- Forestry — Forestry England, Scotland and Wales land
Frequently asked questions — Durham
Where can I view the Durham airspace map?
UK Drone Map displays airspace, FRZs, NOTAMs, and conservation layers for the entire UK including Durham. Open https://ukdronemap.app/ and search for Durham to centre the map on the area.
Are there Flight Restriction Zones near Durham?
Yes — the centre of Durham lies inside the HMP Durham Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ). Flying a drone of any size there requires permission from the aerodrome operator before flight under Article 94A of the Air Navigation Order 2016. The exact FRZ boundary is shown on UK Drone Map's FRZ layer. Always cross-check against the official NATS UK AIS before any operation.
How do I check NOTAMs for Durham?
UK Drone Map loads NOTAMs from the NATS / UK AIS feed. Toggle the NOTAM layers in the Layers tab to view active notices for the Durham area. NOTAMs are refreshed with each data update.
Are there conservation areas near Durham?
UK Drone Map displays SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar, AONB, National Park, National Trust, Royal Parks, and Forestry land designations. Enable the Conservation layers in the Layers tab to see what applies near Durham.
Drone airspace maps near Durham
Data sources
All airspace and conservation data displayed by UK Drone Map for the Durham area comes from official UK sources:
- NATS / UK AIS — Flight Restriction Zones, NOTAMs
- OpenAIP — Airspace definitions (CTR, TMA, ATZ, MATZ, etc.)
- Natural England — SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar, AONB, NNR (England)
- NatureScot — SSSI, SAC, SPA, NNR, NSA (Scotland)
- Natural Resources Wales — Conservation designations (Wales)
- DAERA / NIEA — Conservation designations (Northern Ireland)
- National Trust — National Trust land boundaries
- Forestry Commission — Forestry land England, Scotland, Wales
UK Drone Map is a reference and planning aid only. It is not a substitute for official NATS AIS data, CAA guidance, or the legal pre-flight obligations placed on drone operators under UK aviation law. All data must be verified against official sources before any operation. Place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).