Lanchester Valley Walk

The Railway Path provides an ideal way of exploring the countryside of the Lanchester Valley and beyond. It is suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding. The railway was originally built to carry iron ore to Consett Steelworks and coal from Langley Park. It opened as a passenger service in 1862 and closed altogether in 1965.

Along the route there are many points of interest. These include:

• Beau Repaire, a former monks retreat, can be viewed from the railway path as it passes nearby the village of Bearpark which takes its name from this site. There is a public right of way that leads to the ruins of Beau Repaire, entry is free and it is open all year round.
• Malton Picnic Area
• Lanchester Roman Fort was located on the major Roman supply route 'Dere Street'. There is no public access to the Fort as it is on private land. However it can be seen from the lay-by on the B6296 Lanchester-Satley road (0.7 km from the railway path).
• Hurbuck Embankment is a large embankment constructed using colliery waste. The former wooden 'Knitsley Viaduct' which was used until 1915, still exists, buried beneath the embankment.

The Lanchester Valley Railway Path is approximately 19.5 km (12 miles) long. It begins at Broompark Picnic Area where it meets two other railway paths:

• The Deerness Valley Railway Path; 12.5 km (7.5 miles) long and terminates on meeting the B6299 near Stanley Crook.
• The Brandon / Bishop Railway Path; 14 km (8.5 miles) ending at Bishop Auckland on the Newton Cap viaduct.

The Lanchester Valley Railway Path passes through or nearby the villages of Bearpark, Langley Park and Lanchester before reaching its end at Lydgetts Junction near Consett. At this point it joins three other railway paths:

• The Waskerley Way; which extends for another 16 km (10 miles) to Crawleyside near Stanhope,
• The Derwent Valley Railway Path; that extends for another 13.5 km (9.5 miles) to Rowlands Gill
• The Consett to Sunderland (Part of the C2C Sustrans route)

There are a wide variety of wildflowers, trees and shrubs that grow along the route. It also provides a home, refuge and feeding ground for many types of animal.

Lanchester Valley Railway Path - Map

Information

Location

• Broompark Picnic Area - 3 km (2 miles) by road from Durham City centre (south on A690 to the Stone Bridge roundabout then west on the B6302)
• Malton Picnic Area - 10.5 km (6.5 miles) by road (A691) from Durham City centre, and 2 km (1.5 miles) from Lanchester centre

Facilities

• Free Parking (Broompark Picnic Area, Malton Picnic Area, Lanchester (Newbiggin Lane car park), old road (on the west side of unclassified road, opposite entrance to Hurbuck Cottages) and Lydgetts Junction (near Moorside, Consett - where the Waskerley Way meets the Lanchester Valley Walk).
• Benches and seats located along the walk
• Suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding
• Picnic Areas (Broompark and Malton)

Enquiries

Tel: 0191 3833594

Note

The Lanchester Valley is generally quite flat with low gradients making it suitable for people with a physical disability (including wheelchair users). However at many of the road crossing points where bridges once stood, the slopes are steeper. Also a 300m section of walk near Knitsley Station (between Hurbuck and Delves) is quite steep; around a 1 in 20 gradient.

Length

• Broompark to Bearpark - 2.5 km (1.5 miles)
• Bearpark to Langley Park - 4 km (2.5 miles)
• Langley Park to Malton - 3 km (2 miles)
• Malton to Lanchester - 1.5 km (1 mile)
• Lanchester to Hurbuck - 4 km (2.5 miles)
• Hurbuck to Lydgetts Junction - 4 km (2.5 miles)
• Total Length 19.5 km (12 miles)