Weardale Way - Bishop Auckland to Durham (★★★☆☆)

Today I fancied exploring somewhere new, and quite liked the idea of doing the Weardale Way from Bishop Auckland to Durham - partly interested by exploring a new area, and partly being keen to return to Durham - and have an explore around that city once again.

And so I took the train out, down to the end of the Tees Valley line - where any further onward travel is only possible via the heritage Weardale Railway. 

From here the first task is to head around the houses, and down to the River Wear - in order to meet up with the Weardale Way. Here I planned to follow the official Weardale Way route, but I'm a bit of a sucker for a disused railway track and so instead take the parallel (and on appearances much more solid) route along the old railway.

It may be May, but it is a wet summers day

The old railway route

I think the decision to walk the railway path through this section is the correct one, as it adds a bit of contrast to the day and with it being very wet it gets me onto nice dry ground for this wettest part of the day. 

If you continue along this railway path, it will actually take you all the way round to Durham - but I only plan to spend a small section on this railway route today (the section where it is running right next to the Weardale Way). 

Having followed the railway path round to Willington, I drop down onto the Weardale Way itself, and here set off through the fields following the River Wear.

Heading through the fields after Willington

Along this section the section is heading through farmland, and after a bend in the river, the path heads past Lowfield Farm - and continues on along a track for this farm.

Continuing along this track, the path bends up and passes through Page Bank. Crossing over the river here, I continue on a bit before I am warned that there is a flooded section of the path up ahead - but not wanting to turn back on myself I head on, hoping it is not too bad.

Here the path settles down as it passes along the banks of the river, through a very quiet section - and after a long stretch along the river, the path heads past Holywell Hall and I reach the flooded section.

The path here usually drops down over a relief channel that must normally be only a small trickle of water (as no bridge has been put in - even though a few planks across would do). Today the channel is about a foot deep and with no alternate route round, I just wade through and up the other side - thankful that it is at least not too cold today.

Continuing on the path heads through the fields by the river, to a track running towards Croxdale Viaduct.

Built in 1872 this is an old viaduct that is used to maintain a constant level on the railway as it comes off the higher plains and as it heads round to the higher ground in Durham centre. Although built in the Victorian era, it remains in used to key as part of the East-Coast mainline and today I have to avoid one of the arches as repair works are on-going.

Croxdale Viaduct

If you are using the East-Coast Mainline between Durham and Darlington, you can spot the path of this walk from the train - and having seen this heading north, you know you are getting close to arriving in Durham itself.

Having passed under the viaduct, we are not quite so close to arriving into Durham, and head over the river, and head up the drive towards Croxdale Hall.

The drive at Croxdale Hall 

Croxdale Hall is quite a grand estate and while it seems to be privately owned, there is a lot of walking routes that head through the grounds. I did look up the history of the hall, but found nothing of major interest other than it has always been a fairly fancy hall.

Having gone up the drive, the path heads through into the core of the estate - where you can find the chapel and some farm buildings near to Croxdale Hall itself.

The chapel

From here the route continues along very minor roads through the estate, heading round to Croxdale Wood, which the route passes along the edge of. And here it is time to drop down to the river below.

This descent down to the river is along clay ground, and so after heavy rain the day before, this was a slow and slippery journey - that only just avoided a very fast slide down from top to bottom.

But once safely down at river level, there is a further stretch running through the woods, before popping out onto a very minor road.

Still feels very wet as I continue on next to the river

This route takes us through the village of Shincliffe, and having crossed over the road, we are now in the core of Durham, following the river round to the centre - heading past the university playing fields.

Following the river into Durham

It is not too much further to go, and upon my arrival I decide to head through the middle of Durham, rather than following the river round, to go look at some of the old buildings.

The Cathedral up close

St Mary the Less church

After spending a bit of time wandering the streets, I head off to the train station and head home.

Enjoyment Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ ★ ★ / 5

Click the link for a writeup of the next section of the Weardale Way round to Sunderland (walked in reverse from Sunderland to Durham).

Disclaimer: This writeup provides a narrative of what to expect rather than a route guide to follow. The route is mostly covered by the 93 OS Landranger map, but does creep into maps 88 and 92 (links redirect to Amazon). The route is in general well way-marked.