Guided countryside walks
County Durham's beautiful countryside is home to a wide variety of plants and animals and the area has a fascinating historical and geological heritage. All are welcome to come and explore with us as we have walks to suit everyone including short, easy walks and long, hard hikes. Unless stated, simply turn up as there is no need to book. Walks are £4.
Walks
June
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 17 June | Tow Law to Helme Park | 10.00am (five hours) nine miles, Dianne Hannaby, New. Start: Lay-by on B6297, just west of junction with A68, Tow Law, DL13 4ED. GR NZ 116386. OS map Lr92. Bring packed lunch, cost. Hard walk. |
| Tuesday 28 June | A Walk Around Witton-le-Wear | 10.00am (five hours) six miles, Derek Newby, New. Start: Witton -le Wear -Village, along high road near to church, Witton- le- Wear, Bishop Auckland, DL14 0AU. GR 147 314. OS map Ex305. Bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
July
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 1, July | Pottering Around the Fells | 10.00am (five and a half hrs) 9.8 miles, Jo Davies, New. Start: Baybridge Picnic Area, 1/2 mile west of Blanchland DH8 9UB. GR NY 956499. OS maps Ex307 & Ex OL43. Bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Wednesday 6 July | Half church of God, half castle against the Scot: Durham City's defences | 6.30pm, (two hours), two miles, David Butler. Start: Outside Castle Gateway, Palace Green, Durham City, DH1 3RN. GR NZ 273423. OS maps Lr88, Ex308. Local history, cost. Easy walk. |
| Saturday 9 July | Dead Friars Walk on Stanhope Common (Includes crossing Stanhope Beck) | 10.00am (seven hours) 15.5 miles, Jo Davies, New. Start: Lay-by near Rookhope Arch, on the Rookhope to Allenheads road, DL13 2DE. GR NY 924430. OS maps Ex307, Ex OL31. Bring packed lunch, cost. Very hard walk. |
| Tuesday 12 July | Beamish Circular | 11.00am (four hours) seven miles, David and Fiona Eltringham, New. Start: Eden Place Picnic Area, off A693 near Beamish Museum, DH9 0RG. GR NZ 220537. OS Map Lr88. Local history, Bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Wednesday 13 July | Railways and a Roman Road | 10.00am (five and a half hours) 10.5 miles, Brian Lander. Start: Broompark Picnic Area, ½ mile from Stonebridge roundabout on B6302 towards Ushaw Moor. DH7 7RJ. GR NZ 251415. OS maps Lr88, Ex308. Nature, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Friday 15 July | Here we go round the Hollybush (Extended Version) | 10.00am (six hours) 10.5 miles, Jo Davies;. Start: Malton Picnic Area, one mile south-east of Lanchester, off A691, DH7 0TH. GR NZ 178464. OS maps Lr88, Ex307. Local history, Bring packed lunch, cost. Hard walk. |
| Wednesday 20 July | Westgate to Rookhope | 10.00am (six and a half hours) 12.5 miles, Dianne Hannaby. Start: Car Park in Westgate, turn down narrow lane next to Hare and Hounds pub signpost for Brotherlee over the bridge on left, DL13 1SG. GR NZ 910380. Bring packed lunch, cost. Very hard walk. |
| Friday 22 July | Wonderful Weardale - Wolsingham to Harperley | 10.00am (five hours) nine and a half miles, Jo Davies. Start: Demesne Mill Picnic Area, Uppertown, Wolsingham, B6296. DL13 3DB. GR NZ 076375. OS maps Lr92, ExOL31. Local history, Bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Friday 29 July | Croxdale Estate and Shincliffe | 10.00am (five hours) nine and a half miles, Dianne Hannaby, New. Start: Sunderland Bridge, old bridge over the River Wear, Croxdale, off B6300, DH6 5JL. GR NZ 265377. OS map Ex305, Lr93. Bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
August
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 2 August | Wolsingham and Tunstall Reservoir | 11.00am (four and a half hours) eight miles, David and Fiona Eltringham. Start: Demesne Mill Picnic Area, Uppertown, Wolsingham, B6296. DL13 3DB. S maps Lr92, Ex307, OL31. Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Wednesday 3 August | Five Reservoirs and the Pennine Way | 10.00am (seven hours) 13 miles, Eric Borley. Start: Old Station Car Park, off B6277, Mickleton, DL12 0JN. GR NY 967234. OS maps Lr92. Local History, nature, brig packed lunch, cost. Hard walk. |
| Saturday 6 August | Have a Wager on Bollihope | 10.00am (six hours) 11 miles, Jo Davies. Start: Bollihope Parking Area, minor road from Frosterley to Bollihope, DL13 2SZ. GR NZ 006349. OS map ExOL31. Bring packed lunch, cost. Very hard walk. |
| Wednesday 10 August | Thornley and the Trig | 10.00am (six hours) 11.5 miles, Dianne Hannaby. Start: Demesne Mill Picnic Area, Uppertown, Wolsingham, B6296. DL13 3DB. GR NZ 076375. OS maps Lr92, ExOL31. Lunch, cost. Hard walk. |
| Friday 12 August | Consett Steel Works Heritage Trail | 10.30am (five hours) seven and a half miles, Jo Davies. Start: Allensford Picnic Area, west car park, off A68 north of Castleside, DH8 9BA. GR NZ 077502. OS map Ex307. Local history, lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Saturday 13 August | Stanhope Common and the Rookhope Railway | 10.00am (five hours) 10 miles, David Butler. Start: Parkhead Station Car Park, off B6278, two miles north of Stanhope, DL13 2ES. GR NZ 003431. OS maps Lr87, Ex307 Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate Walk. |
| Wednesday 17 August | Holwick Scar and Grassholme | 10.00am (seven hours) 14 miles, Dianne Hannaby, New. Start: Middleton-in-Teesdale, fountain on B6282. DL12 0SH. GR NY 947253. OS maps ExOL31. Bring packed lunch, cost. Very Hard walk. |
| Friday 19 August | Greencroft and around the Kyos | 10.00am (four and a half hours) eight miles, Jo Davies. Start: Roadside in Greencroft Industrial Estate, of A693, near Stanley. DH9 7YA. GR NZ 165507. OS map Ex307 Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Wednesday 24 August | In the Footsteps of Pilgrims (1) | 10.30am (six hours) 11 miles, Brian Lander, New. Start: Palace Green, Durham City, DH1 3RN. GR NZ 273423. OS maps Lr88, Ex308. Nature, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Sunday 28 August | Mid-level Weardale | 10.00am (five hours) ten miles, David Butler. Start: Demesne Mill Picnic Area, Uppertown, Wolsingham, B6296. DL13 3DB. GR NZ 076375. OS maps Lr92, ExOL31. |
September
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 2 September | Hope Fell for a Puzzling Ham | 10.00am (five hours) nine miles, Jo Davies. Start: Baybridge Picnic Area, 1/2 mile west of Blanchland, DH8 9UB. GR NY 956499. OS maps Ex307 & Ex OL43. Bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Tuesday 6 September | Dipton and Derwentcote | 11.00am (four hours) seven and a half miles, David and Fiona Eltringham. Start: Car Park next to Collierley School, Dipton on A692, DH9 9DJ. GR NZ 154537. OS map Lr88 Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Tuesday 13 September | A Walk Around Bishop Auckland | 10.00am (four and a half hours) six miles, Derek Newby, New. Start: Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP. GR NZ 213302. OS map Ex305. Nature, local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Saturday 17 September | Heading to Hedleyhope - Cornsay and Satley | 10.00am (six and a half hours) 12 miles, Jo Davies. Start: Cornsay Village Green, please park with consideration, DH7 9EJ. GR NZ 143435. OS maps Lr88, Ex307. Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Very hard walk. |
| Friday 23 September | Sweeping along the Pont Valley | 10.00am (four hours) seven and a half miles, Jo Davies. Start: East Castle (private car park beside house) off A693, DH9 8PH. GR NZ 149520. OS maps Lr88, Ex307 Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
| Wednesday 28 September | Brandon and Beyond | 10.00am (six and a half hours) 13 miles, Dianne Hannaby. Start: Broompark Picnic Area, ½ mile from Stonebridge roundabout on B6302, towards Ushaw Moor. DH7 7RJ. GR NZ 251415. OS maps Lr88, Ex308 bring packed lunch, cost. Hard walk. |
| Friday 30 September | A Hopeful Journey - From Bollihope to Harehope and Back | 10.00am (five hours) 8.8 miles, Jo Davies, new. Start: Bollihope parking area, minor road Frosterley to Bollihope, DL13 2SZ. GR NZ 005350. OS map ExOL31. Local history, bring packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk. |
Useful information about our walks
Estimated timings
Duration of the walk is a guide only. Pace depends on numbers and fitness of the group and weather conditions. The leader will adapt the walk to suit the pace of the slowest participant. All walks are circular unless otherwise stated.
Severe weather
In severe weather conditions, contact us to see if the walk is going ahead.
Postcodes
Nearest postcodes are included, but they may not be the exact start location. Some locations are remote and the postcode given may be some distance away, consult a map.
Cost
The guided walks are £4.
Clothing and smoking
Boots and waterproofs are advisable on all walks. Jeans are not appropriate.
Walks are non-smoking.
Lunch
A packed lunch is required where stated. Please bring this with you. Please also make sure you have enough drinks for the duration of the walk.
Public transport
Some walk start locations can be accessed by public transport. Please check available services at Traveline North East.
Dogs
Well behaved dogs kept on a short, fixed lead are allowed on walks, unless otherwise stated. Routes may be long and over steep ground with stiles to cross. Dogs remain the responsibility of the owner. We reserve the right to refuse your dog onto the walk.
Car parking
Ensure parking does not create a hazard and does not obstruct entrances or other traffic. Please car share or use public transport wherever possible.
Existing health conditions
Please be advised that you will be asked to inform walk leaders of pre-existing medical conditions at the beginning of the walk and provide emergency contact details.
Key to walk difficulty
Easy - Walk suitable for most levels of fitness. Good paths, relatively flat, possibly a few stiles. Stout shoes needed.
Moderate - Walks suitable for people with reasonable levels of fitness. Covering uneven ground, streams, inclines and stiles. Boots essential.
Hard - Requires a good level of fitness. Walks through some rough moorland with steep or strenuous climbs. Boots essential.
Very Hard - Requires a very good level of fitness and previous walking experience. Stiles, steep and strenuous climbs on rough and variable track surfaces. Strong boots essential.
Getting there
Map references - six figure references indicate the starting point of the walk. They can be used to find a place on a 1:50 000 or 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey map. For instructions on reading grid references see map or go to Ordnance Survey. Lr = Landranger, OL = Outdoor Leisure, Ex = Explorer.
- Countryside Service
- Countryside Service
- 03000 264 589
