Weardale Way

OVERVIEW

The Weardale Way is not an overly walked trail, and there are segments of the trail where you encounter some navigation issues. In some ways, part of walking this trail is working round the issues you face along the way, and so far I have always found a way through.

But this is a trail that does take in a very nice slice of countryside from the upper Weardale down to the more urban areas around Durham and Sunderland. Durham itself is a particular highlight of the trail - and is a welcome addition on the eastern stretch of the trail, but there are other highlights on the more urban end of the trail at Lumley Castle and Finchale Priory.

The upper end of the trail is the most enjoyable, but slightly more challenging to reach using public transport - and the most challenging for overnight accommodation.

So far I have walked, but not written up, a decent chunk of the next stretch from Bishop Auckland - having walked out and back, but on my long list of future walks are two future trips that would complete the upper end of the trail properly. That stretch included a section with a locked gate across the public right of way, but I just hopped the gate on the way through.

Although the end point at Sunderland sounds somewhat unexciting, there are nice onward walks along the coastal path if you either head up to Whitley Bay (don't make my mistake of cutting into Newcastle) or down to Hartlepool.

PRACTICALITIES

The eastern (coastal) end of the trail is very easy to walk, with Sunderland train station covering the furthest end - and with Metro stations running out as far as South Hylton.

Next the trail passes close to Chester-le-Street, and passes through Durham - with train stations accessible at both locations. The final train station on route comes as the path heads through Bishop Auckland.

The next section between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland can again be done in a day, catching the bus out from Bishop Auckland and walking back - and this makes use of the train station at Bishop Auckland.

For the top section, my plans are to take the bus up to Cowshill - and then walk the upper section of the Weardale Way, before stopping over in Rookhope. On the following day I plan to walk down to Stanhope to complete the trail, before walking long the old railway tracks to Consett (and mostly choosing this option because that looks to be a nice walk).

USEFUL SITES


STAGES

Killhope to Rookhope

Planned to be walked in the future...

Rookhope to Stanhope

Planned to be walked in the future...

Stanhope to Bishop Auckland

So far I have walked this section up to just shy of Wolsingham, but with no full writeup. From Bishop Auckland the route heads out along the river (the path is fairly worn in sections), with an early highlight in the form of the old church at Escomb - and then heads past Witton Castle (you can divert off to take a look without adding much distance).

The path then cross over the river (past a pretty waterfall), and heads from Witton-le-Wear across the fields to head past Harperley Hall - and then crosses over the river near an active quarry site. From here the path heads into a forest - and here I turned back.

I plan to return at some point to walk the full route - and to do that will take the bus out to Stanhope in the morning (a shorter distance than this out and back walk).

Bishop Auckland to Durham (★★★☆☆)

From Bishop Auckland the Weardale Way heads across the fields (although here I followed the old railway path instead as it was a very wet start to the day). This takes you round to Willington, where you continue along the river - heading past Page Bank on the way to Croxdale Viaduct.

After heading under the viaduct you enter the grounds of Croxdale Hall, and then pass through the centre of the estate, before walking along a very quiet road that borders Croxdale Wood. At High Butterby Farm the path then drops down to the river - and then the river is followed until it heads into Durham itself.

This section totaled 14.7 miles of walking (13.3 miles on the Weardale Way itself), with under a thousand feet of ascent.

Durham to Sunderland (★★★☆☆)

From Durham the trail heads out across the fields, with views back towards the castle and cathedral. From here you head pass Brasside prison, and the on along a minor road that heads past old WWII munition storage bunkers to Finchale Priory.

From here you cross over the Wear and up steps to once again do some road walking, before returning to fields at Great Lumley. From here you loop round Lumley Castle - and then follow a tributary of the Wear round to Bournmoor. 

From here you divert off the path of that river, heading past Biddick Hall to rejoin the Wear, which is then followed round to Sunderland.

This section totaled 20.9 miles of walking (20.2 miles on the Weardale Way itself), with around one and a half thousand feet of ascent.

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