The Weardale Way (Cowshill to Sunderland Bridge) 45miles / 72km
The Weardale Way, winding its way for roughly 74 miles following the Wear Valley from Cowshill in Upper Weardale (with an extension route to connect to Killhope North of England Lead Mining Museum) to Sunderland , passes through the contrasting landscapes and villages of rural Weardale, through historic Durham City, eventually meandering through the more urban lowlands as the river meets the sea at Sunderland. Along the way, passing through moorland, pasture, arable, woodland, plantation, riverside, towns and villages walkers can enjoy a wealth of historic and natural points of interest.
On this page we have information relating to part of the Weardale Way between Cowshill and Sunderland Bridge (which is near Croxdale and not Sunderland, confusingly).
The Weardale Way has recently been waymarked afresh within Durham County, including wooden fingerposts where the route meets a road. Works have also been undertaken to improve and renew many stiles and gates along the way. Funding for these improvements came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, via the Mineral Valleys Project, which was managed by Natural England.
Below there is a series of 10 downloadable pdf maps of the route, all of which can be printed out: -
This first map illustrates the locations of the 10 sections of the route.
Weardale Way Map Key.pdf (1 page, 1064kb)
Cowshill to Westgate - 4.5 miles : 7600m
Weardale Way Map 1.pdf (1 page, 513kb)
Westgate to Eastgate via Rookhope - 8 miles : 12800m
Weardale Way Map 2.pdf (1 page, 537kb)
Eastgate to Stanhope - 2.5 miles : 4200m
Weardale Way Map 3.pdf (1 page, 508kb)
Stanhope to White Kirkley - 4.5 miles : 7400m
Weardale Way Map 4.pdf (1 page, 512kb)
White Kirkley to Wolsingham - 5.5 miles : 9200m
Weardale Way Map 5.pdf (1 page, 481kb)
Wolsingham to Harperley - 3 miles : 4500m
Weardale Way Map 6.pdf (1 page, 483kb)
Harperley to Witton-le-Wear - 3 miles : 4600m
Weardale Way Map 7.pdf (1 page, 494kb)
Witton-le-Wear to Bishop Auckland - 5 miles : 8200m
Weardale Way Map 8.pdf (1 page, 529kb)
Bishop Auckland to Willington - 4 miles : 6500m
Weardale Way Map 9.pdf (1 page, 528kb)
Willington to Sunderland Bridge - 4.5 miles : 7300m
Weardale Way Map 10.pdf (1 page, 499kb)
More information on the whole of the Weardale Way can be found at www.weardaleway.com
Cowshill to Killhope, an extension to the Weardale Way
Produced as part of the Mineral Valleys Project. In the series of leaflets promoting walks leading from the Weardale Way. This leaflet can also be viewed in a pdf format:
Cowshill to Killhope.pdf (2 pages, 493kb)
Access and Rights of Way
Countryside
Countryside Publications
Further related information: Much of the Weardale Way west of Wolsingham lies within the North Pennines Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty.
