100 Walks in County Durham E-Book

Gary Richardson

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

The perfect way to experience the amazing countryside of county Durham is on two feet. Whatever your age, ability or energy level this new collection of 100 walks of up to 12 miles will help you explore the best of this breathtakingly beautiful coastal landscape. The Crowood Walking Guides give detailed and accurate route descriptions of the 100 walks. Full-colour mapping is included which is sourced from the Ordnance Survey. Details of where to park and where to eat and drink are included and also places of interest to see along the way.

Leseprobe

100 WALKS IN COUNTY DURHAM

THE CROWOOD PRESS

First published in 2017 by

The Crowood Press Ltd

Ramsbury, Marlborough

Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

© The Crowood Press 2017

This e-book first published in 2017

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of thistext may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 78500 307 3

Front cover: Shutterstock

Mapping in this book is sourced from the following products: OS Explorer 304, 305, 307, 308, OL31

© Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey. Licence number 100038003

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this book. However, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. The Publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or for the consequences of any reliance on the information given in this book, but should be very grateful if walkers could let us know of any inaccuracies by writing to us at the address above or via the website.

As with any outdoor activity, accidents and injury can occur. We strongly advise readers to check the local weather forecast before setting out and to take an OS map. The Publishers accept no responsibility for any injuries which may occur in relation to following the walk descriptions contained within this book.

Contents

How to Use this Book

Walks Locator

WALK 1

Pittington Hill

2¾ miles (340 ft) East Durham

WALK 2

Cassop Vale

3¼ miles (400 ft) East Durham

WALK 3

Durham Heritage Coast

3¼ miles (350 ft) East Durham

WALK 4

Hardwick Park

3½ miles (270 ft) East Durham

WALK 5

Low Dinsdale

4 miles (275 ft) East Durham

WALK 6

Castle Eden Dene

4 miles (730 ft) East Durham

WALK 7

Lumley Park and Castle

4¾ miles (320 ft) East Durham

WALK 8

Hawthorn Dene

5 miles (500 ft) East Durham

WALK 9

Middleton-One-Row to Newsham Hall

6 miles (275 ft) Est Durham

WALK 10

Croft-on-Tees and Stapleton

6 miles (325 ft) East Durham

WALK 11

Sherburn and Pittington Circular

9½ miles (810 ft) East Durham

WALK 12

Waldridge Fell

3 miles (260 ft) Derwentside

WALK 13

Causey Arch 1

3½ miles (425 ft) Derwentside

WALK 14

Causey Arch 2

5½ miles (490 ft) Derwentside

WALK 15

Hamsterley Mill Woods 1

4½ miles (525 ft) Derwentside

WALK 16

Hamsterley Mill Woods 2

6¼ miles (725 ft) Derwentside

WALK 17

Waskerley Reservoir

5¼ miles (330 ft) Derwentside

WALK 18

Nanny Mayers Incline 1

5¼ miles (530 ft) Derwentside

WALK 19

Nanny Mayers Incline 2

8¼ miles (710 ft) Derwentside

WALK 20

Cuddy’s Corse

8 miles (620 ft) Derwentside

WALK 21

Burnhope Burn

8 miles (820 ft)) Derwentside

WALK 22

Durham City 1

2 miles (225 ft) Weardale

WALK 23

Durham City 2

4¾ miles (610 ft) Weardale

WALK 24

Hedleyhope Fell

2¼ miles (330 ft) Weardale

WALK 25

Auckland Park

3¼ miles (430 ft) Weardale

WALK 26

The Auckland Way

3¾ miles (220 ft) Weardale

WALK 27

Tunstall Reservoir

3¾ miles (550 ft) Weardale

WALK 28

Westgate

4½ miles (650 ft) Weardale

WALK 29

Stanhope Dene and Crawley Edge 1

4½ miles (650 ft) Weardale

WALK 30

Stanhope Dene and Crawley Edge 2

6¼ miles (800 ft) Weardale

WALK 31

Escomb

4¾ miles (220 ft) Weardale

WALK 32

Shincliffe Woods 1

4¾ miles (320 ft) Weardale

WALK 33

Shincliffe Woods 2

7 miles (620 ft) Weardale

WALK 34

Puddingthorn Edge

5¼ miles (890 ft) Weardale

WALK 35

Middlehope Burn

5½ miles (640 ft) Weardale

WALK 36

Frosterley

6 miles (780 ft) Weardale

WALK 37

Wolsingham

6 miles (870 ft) Weardale

WALK 38

Rookhope

6½ miles (690 ft) Weardale

WALK 39

Wolsingham and Tunstall Res

7 miles (1075 ft) Weardale

WALK 40

Durham City

7¼ miles (920 ft) Weardale

WALK 41

St John’s Chapel to Cowshill

7¼ miles (1060 ft) Weardale

WALK 42

Burnhope Reservoir

7½ miles (1250 ft) Weardale

WALK 43

The Deerness & Lanchester Valleys

7½ miles (520 ft) Weardale

WALK 44

Noon Hill

7¾ miles (1400 ft) Weardale

WALK 45

Brancepeth

8½ miles (460 ft) Weardale

WALK 46

Elephant Trees

9½ miles (1040 ft) Weardale

WALK 47

Page Bank

10 miles (750 ft) Weardale

WALK 48

Stanhope Common

10 miles (1300 ft) Weardale

WALK 49

Cotherstone

2 miles (165 ft) Teesdale

WALK 50

Bowlees and Holwick

2½ miles (260 ft) Teesdale

WALK 51

Middleton and Leekworth

2½ miles (260 ft) Teesdale

WALK 52

Kings Walk

3 miles (540 ft) Teesdale

WALK 53

Hamsterley Forest 1

3 miles (400 ft) Teesdale

WALK 54

Hamsterley Forest 2

5 miles (800 ft) Teesdale

WALK 55

Pecknell Woods

3¾ miles (290 ft) Teesdale

WALK 56

Kirkcarrion

3¼ miles (700 ft) Teesdale

WALK 57

Carr Crags

3¼ miles (860 ft) Teesdale

WALK 58

Egglestone Abbey

3½ miles (290 ft) Teesdale

WALK 59

Butterknowle

3½ miles (330 ft) Teesdale

WALK 60

Cockfield Fell

3¾ miles (390 ft) Teesdale

WALK 61

Bowlees and The Rigg

4 miles (360 ft) Teesdale

WALK 62

Flatts Wood

4 miles (370 ft) Teesdale

WALK 63

Newbiggin Quarry

4¼ miles (600 ft) Teesdale

WALK 64

Bowlees and High Force

4¼ miles (450 ft) Teesdale

WALK 65

Cleatlam

4¼ miles (260 ft) Teesdale

WALK 66

Staindrop and Streatlam Park 1

4½ miles (280 ft) Teesdale 124

WALK 67

Staindrop and Streatlam Park 2

6¾ miles (430 ft) Teesdale

WALK 68

Piercebridge

4½ miles (200 ft) Teesdale

WALK 69

Great Stony Hill

5½ miles (970 ft) Teesdale

WALK 70

Cotherstone to Romaldkirk

5¾ miles (650 ft) Teesdale

WALK 71

Forest-in-Teesdale

5¾ miles (605 ft) Teesdale

WALK 72

Boldron

5¾ miles (550 ft) Teesdale

WALK 73

Shacklesborough

6 miles (640 ft) Teesdale

WALK 74

Whorlton

6 miles (430 ft) Teesdale

WALK 75

Hardberry Hill

6 miles (1030 ft) Teesdale

WALK 76

The Coniscliffes

6 miles (200 ft) Teesdale

WALK 77

Baldersdale

6½ miles (500 ft) Teesdale

WALK 78

High Coniscliffe

6½ miles (235 ft) Teesdale

WALK 79

The Tees Railway Walk

6½ miles (375 ft) Teesdale

WALK 80

Winston

6¾ miles (530 ft) Teesdale

WALK 81

Cronkley Fell

6¾ miles (850 ft) Teesdale

WALK 82

Brignall Banks

7 miles (780 ft) Teesdale

WALK 83

Bowlees and the Green Trod

7 miles (730 ft) Teesdale

WALK 84

Deepdale and Lartington

7 miles (590 ft) Teesdale

WALK 85

Sleightholme

7 miles (580 ft) Teesdale

WALK 86

Bowes and God’s Bridge

7¼ miles (630 ft) Teesdale

WALK 87

Goldsborough

7½ miles (730 ft) Teesdale

WALK 88

Barnard Castle to Cotherstone

7½ miles (640 ft) Teesdale

WALK 89

Cauldron Snout

7½ miles (720 ft) Teesdale

WALK 90

Barningham Moor

8 miles (920 ft) Teesdale

WALK 91

God’s Bridge

8 miles (650 ft) Teesdale

WALK 92

Grassholme Reservoir

8 miles (1040 ft) Teesdale

WALK 93

High Acton, Hamsterley Forest

8¼ miles (1200 ft) Teesdale

WALK 94

Monk’s Moor

8¼ miles (1780 ft) Teesdale

WALK 95

Teesdale Waterfalls

8½ miles (850 ft) Teesdale

WALK 96

Bink Moss

8½ miles (1170 ft) Teesdale

WALK 97

Herdship Fell

8¾ miles (1450 ft) Teesdale

WALK 98

Summerhouse and Hilton

9 miles (530 ft) Teesdale

WALK 99

Holwick Fell

9½ miles (1250 ft) Teesdale

WALK 100

Pawlaw Pike and Five Pikes

9¾ miles (1500 ft) Teesdale

How to Use this Book

The walks in the book are ordered regionally, and then by distance within each region, starting with the shortest and ending with the longest. An information panel for each walk shows the distance, start point (see below), a summary of level of difficulty (easy/moderate/difficult/strenuous), OS map(s) required, and suggested pubs/cafés at the start/end of walk or on the way. An introductory sentence at the beginning of each walk briefly describes the route and terrain.

Readers should be aware that starting point postcodes have been supplied for satnav purposes and are not indicative of exact locations. Some start points are so remote that there is no postcode.

MAPS

There are 92 maps covering the 100 walks. Some of the walks are extensions of existing routes and the information panel for these walks will tell you the distance of the short and long versions of the walk, depending on whether you wish to combine two walks or tackle each singly.

The routes marked on the maps are punctuated by a series of numbered waypoints. These relate to the same numbers shown in the walk description.

Start Points

The start of each walk is given as a postcode and also a six-figure grid reference number prefixed by two letters (which indicates the relevant square on the National Grid). More information on grid references is found on Ordnance Survey maps.

Parking

Many of the car parks suggested are public, but for some walks you will have to park on the roadside or in a lay-by. Please be considerate when leaving your car and do not block access roads or gates. Also, if parking in a pub car park for the duration of the walk, please try to avoid busy times.

COUNTRYSIDE CODE

Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors

Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths

Leave no trace of your visit and take litter home

Keep dogs under effective control

Plan ahead and be prepared

Follow advice and local signs

Walks Locator

WALK

1

Pittington Hill

START St Laurence’s Church, High Pittington, DH6 1AB, GR NZ328435

DISTANCE 2¾ miles/4.4km with 340ft/103m of ascent

SUMMARY An easy walk mainly along field paths, with one short steep climb

MAPS OS Explorer 308 Durham & Sunderland; OS Landranger 88 Newcastle upon Tyne

PARKING Small parking area adjacent to the church gates

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK Hallgarth Manor Hotel, High Pittington, T0191-372-1188 www.hallgarthmanorhotel.com

A short walk around the environs of Pittington Hill, with great panoramic views from the top.

From the church go right along a footpath alongside the churchyard wall, follow this downhill, cross a footbridge and continue across the fields to Littletown Farm. Enter the farmyard via a gate and go left, passing in front of some houses, and then along the track to reach Coalford La. Cross this and turn right for a short distance to reach a track leading into Pittington Woods (1).

Turn left here and follow the path until you reach a track on the left; go down this to cross a bridge. Continue in the same direction uphill through the conifer plantation to reach another minor road. Go directly across and take the path which climbs steeply through the woods, passing an old quarry on the left to reach the edge of the wood (2).

There is no defined path across Pittington Hill from here, so go slightly left across some rough grass until you reach the edge of the field, then turn right and follow the field edge; where this stops, continue ahead in the same direction. There are great views from the highest point: on a clear day Durham Cathedral and the Penshaw Monument are visible. Continue downhill in the same direction, aiming for a metal gate at the bottom of the field. Don’t go through this; turn left and double back slightly to reach a stile through the hedge. Follow the path through the woods to another stile, cross this and continue in the same direction. Shortly after exiting the woods you will come to a fork in the path (3).

Take the right-hand fork and head downhill to reach a metal kissing gate, which gives access onto a minor road. Turn right and then go left down a road between houses to reach Coalford La again. Turn left and walk through the village to the crossroads, here turning right onto Hallgrath La. Follow this past the school, opposite the Hallgarth Manor Hotel. Where the road bends right, keep left and go down the lane towards St Laurence’s Church to reach the car park.

Points of interest

Sheltered by a grove of elm and sycamore, the village of High Pittington was once the country retreat of the Prior of the Abbey of Durham.

St Laurence’s Church contains a Norman font, which was once sold for half a crown and used as a feeding trough at Belmont Farm; it was rediscovered in 1885 after 76 years.

WALK

2

Cassop Vale

START Cassop Community Centre, Cassop, DH6 4RP, GR NZ344383

DISTANCE 3¼ miles/5.2km with 400ft/120m of ascent

SUMMARY An easy walk mainly along field paths, with some climbing

MAPS OS Explorer 308 Durham & Sunderland; OS Landranger 88 Newcastle upon Tyne

PARKING Roadside parking outside the community centre

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK None

A short walk around the environs of Cassop Vale and the nature reserve.

From the community centre walk past the entrance to the nature reserve and continue along the B6291 until it starts to curve left. Leave the road at the footpath sign on the right and head across two fields to Cassop Hill farm, pass behind the farm, and continue in the same direction to reach the radio mast (1).

Go right onto a track and follow this through woods and dolomite outcrops to reach a wooden gate/stile. Cross this and join a track coming in from the right. Follow this downhill through two more gates/stiles. At the bottom of the hill go right and then left after a short distance. Cross a stream and exit the woods via a gate, and cross the field to reach a fenced area with a number of gates (2).

Turn left and exit the enclosed area, crossing the field to reach a stile that gives access onto a fenced lane. Follow this until you reach an open area, keeping right along the track as it starts to climb up the hill to eventually reach a minor road. Turn right and follow this into Old Cassop village. Walk through the village to where the road turns 90 degrees left (3).

Leave the road and go through the farmyard, which gives access to a fenced lane. Follow the lane as it climbs over the hill – there are good views of the vale from here. There’s a small dogleg right in the path where its starts to descend back into Cassop Vale. At the bottom of the hill you will reach the same enclosed area as earlier in the walk (2). Take the stile on the left, behind the seat, and follow the track back towards Cassop village, walking through the nature reserve. Just after passing the lake the path begins to climb, reaching a road beside the water treatment works. Go left and follow this uphill to reach the village a short distance from the community centre.

Points of interest

Cassop Vale was once the bed of a shallow lagoon, into which flowed rivers carrying large amounts of calcium and magnesium salts. When the waters evaporated in the high temperatures of that time vast deposits of dolomite and calcium were created. Distortions of the earth’s crust raised this dolomite sea-bed, which retreating glaciers ripped and serrated. Man has quarried it extensively, farmed its topsoil and mined through it looking for coal.

WALK

3

Durham Heritage Coast

START Crimdon Beach car park, Hartlepool, TS27 4BW, GR NZ481372

FINISH Limekiln Gill car park, Horden, SR8 4HN, GR NZ454406

DISTANCE 3¼ miles/5.2km with 350ft/120m of ascent

SUMMARY An easy walk along the clifftop paths, with some steps

MAPS OS Explorer 308 Durham & Sunderland; OS Landranger 88 Newcastle upon Tyne

PARKING Clifftop car park beside the holiday park

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK None

A linear walk along the clifftops of the Durham Heritage Coast.

Take the coastal path north from the car park. Initially this runs alongside the holiday park and you will pass close to the caravans which look out to sea. Where the tarmac path runs out, keep on over grass following the clifftop path. Soon after leaving the holiday park the path is forced away from the sea by a deep inlet; follow the path to reach a tunnel under the railway (1).

Don’t go through the tunnel, but turn right and go through a gate and follow the path. There is a detour to the route indicated on the OS map at this point, due to coastal erosion. Follow the new fence line until you reach a set of steps descending to the right; go down these and up the other side. Continue along the clifftop path – there is now no fence so caution is needed as the cliffs are unstable and steep. Keep right as you reach a car park, briefly joining a surfaced track. The path continues on to reach a notice board at the steps at Blackhall Rocks. Don’t descend these, but keep left along the clifftop path.

Soon after reaching the inlet of Blue House Gill, the path is forced inland again, joining another surfaced track at the location of the old Blackhall Colliery. Turn left and join this track for a short distance (2), leaving it where the coastal path turns right, heading back to the clifftops. Where the path passes some allotment gardens, away to your left, ignore any tracks heading towards them. Keep on the clifftop path to reach some black metal posts at the top of some steps (good views here of the railway viaduct over Castle Eden Dene). Go down the steps into the valley below. After crossing the stream via the footbridge keep right to round Hartlepool Point, and then go left into Limekiln Gill, following the path to reach the car park.

Note: it is possible to return to the start of the walk along the clifftop path, or alternatively if the tide is low you can walk all the way back along the beach. But please take care as this is only possible at low tide; the section south of Blackhall Rocks would be impassable when the tide is in. Also note that many of the steps up/down from the beach indicated on the OS maps are no longer usable due to landslips.

WALK

4

Hardwick Park

START Hardwick Park Visitor Centre, TS21 2EH, GR NZ345287

DISTANCE 3½ miles/5.6km with 270ft/80m of ascent

SUMMARY An easy walk mainly along field paths and tracks

MAPS OS Explorer 308 Durham & Sunderland; OS Landranger 88 Newcastle upon Tyne

PARKING Pay and display car parking

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Tower Café, by the visitor centre T01740-621505 (open 10–4)

A pleasant walk in country parkland and surrounding fields.

From the visitor centre go left along the track signposted ‘to dog exercise area’, running alongside a fence. Serpentine Lake can be seen through the trees on the right, which you will walk around later in the walk. Continue along the track to the far end to reach a gate, go through this and turn right onto another track and then right again onto a downhill path to reach a footpath sign on the left. Turn left, crossing a field and then continue into a small wooded area to reach a gate (1).

Turn right onto a track running along the edge of the field, and follow this to the corner of a wood. Continue alongside the wood, passing through the gate in the corner of the field and then diagonally right across it to a footbridge. Cross the bridge and then turn right onto a track; follow this to reach a large gravel area next to a quad bike track. Turn right along the road, keep right at the junction and pass behind the hotel to reach the entrance gates on the A177 (2).

Don’t go through these; go right along the drive to the hotel. In front of the hotel, go left down some steps to a gate which gives access to the ‘Grand Terrace’. Turn right along this, passing the Bath House at the end of the lake. The path then goes left through Bono Retiro to reach the other side of the lake. Keep left at the next path junction, and then left at the following one, which will take you down onto the path between the lake and Fen Carr (3).

Go right over the wooden walkway over the boggy ground of Fen Carr and then right at the next junction to reach Serpentine Bridge. You could go directly back to the car park by crossing the bridge at this point, or keep straight on to follow the loop path around the lake.

Points of interest

Hardwick Park is a country park with a difference. It has survived since the 1750s when its then owner, John Burdon, created a sprawling ornamental park. He enhanced the ornamental lake on the south side of the hall by adding an artificial river leading to it and encircling it with a walkway. In all, he laid out forty acres of additional ornamental features, including temples, grottoes and follies, designed primarily by London architect James Paine. Although the grounds and buildings were not subsequently well maintained, the garden retains the basic structure put into place by Paine and is an unusual example of authentic eighteenth-century landscape design.

WALK

5

Low Dinsdale

START The Front, Middleton One Row, DL2 1AS, GR NZ352123

DISTANCE 6 miles/9.7km with 275ft/83m of ascent

SUMMARY An easy walk mainly along riverside and field paths

MAPS OS Explorer 304 Darlington & Richmond; OS Landranger 93 Middlesbrough

PARKING Roadside parking opposite The Devonport Hotel

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK Gabriella’s Coffee Shop, in The Devonport Hotel, T01325-332255, www.devonporthotel.co.uk (open Mon–Sat 9–5)

A pleasant walk along the lower reaches of the River Tees to the medieval village of Low Dinsdale.

From The Front, which is beautifully sited some 60ft above the River Tees, go diagonally right, down across a grassy slope towards the woods/ river. Keep right at the bottom, heading upstream along the riverside path to reach a parking area at the end of a lane. Go left through the gates and along the road towards the house at the end (1).

Pass in front of the house to enter a wooded area, then keep on the good path through the woods, which gives glimpses of the river down to the left. Ignore any paths going off uphill on the right, continuing on to reach a gate after about a mile. Leave the woods through the gate and go directly across the field, heading towards the church at Low Dinsdale (2).

On reaching the road opposite the church, turn right and walk through the village, continuing until a gate/footpath sign is reached on the right beneath some trees. Go right into the field and follow the path along the right-hand side, continuing alongside the edge of the woods until you reach the golf course. Here, the path turns right and cuts across the golf course; the way is well defined, but note the warnings about golf balls (3).

Upon reaching the road at the other side of the course, turn right, following the road into Dinsdale Park. Go between the houses and then onto a lane heading down through the trees to reach the riverside again (1). The return to Middleton One Row is back along the riverside path, retracing the outward part of the walk.

Points of interest

Historically, Low Dinsdale was commonly known as Dinsdale. The ‘Low’ was added to distinguish the village from the neighbouring village of Over Dinsdale, on the opposite bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire. The name is Old English and means ‘nook of land belonging to a man named Dyttin or Deighton’.