Walking and Cycling in County Durham - Day Walks & Cycleways

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates

County Durham stretches from the high Pennines in the west to a low cliff-coast in the east. Its richly wooded, ancient landscape covered a treasure trove of coal and lead. Wave after wave of invaders fought each other, conquered each other, and settled beside each other to breed a race of hardy people who will always have the strength to face change – for County Durham is essentially a land of change.

Durham city is dominated by symbols of a powerful trinity. The cathedral is a symbol of religious power; the castle a symbol of civic power; the university a symbol of the power of thought and learning. This trinity of powers and disciplines was personified in a succession of ‘prince-bishops’, who dominated and controlled the region throughout centuries of change. The religio-political scene was summed up in the words of Sir Walter Scott:
 

‘Grey towers of Durham,
Yet well I love thy mixed and
massive piles,
Half church of God, half castle ’
‘gainst the Scot’.
 

Those who walk through County Durham can best observe the signs of change. Here you will find a Roman fort, and over there a Saxon church, or a Norman castle. Here is a coalmine, there is a lead mine, and over there is an old stone quarry. You can find remnants of ancient woodland, marvel at communities of arctic/alpine plants, or observe the slow and steady reclamation of a former industrial site by the forces of nature. Ancient market towns, old pit villages and new industrial sites all share the same countryside.
 

As industry changes, its remains are consigned to museums and visitor centres, so a generation is growing up who will never experience the depths of a coalmine, and are breathing cleaner air. As former industrial sites are redeveloped for recreational uses, there are more opportunities to explore new areas of countryside, where interpretative facilities are first class.
 

County Durham is changing fast. Historically, it was a land hemmed in between two mighty rivers – the Tyne to the north and the Tees to the south. It lost portions of its original territory in the local government reorganisation of 1974, although gained a generous slice of Yorkshire in the process. In 1997 the Borough of Darlington ‘seceded’ from County Durham, so the county boundary keeps shifting. The power of the prince-bishops has waned, and more and more people are turning to the countryside to find a renewal of spirit. There are broad and bleak moorlands to explore, wide-ranging views to enjoy, powerful waterfalls to admire, woodlands and fields to wander through, heritage sites to visit, with plenty of interest and enjoyment on the way.
 

The network of rights of way is constantly being overhauled by an active Countryside Group at County Hall, with the aim of ensuring that paths are walk-able and clearly marked. New routes are being developed, most notably a splendid, signposted network of traffic-free cycleways along old railway trackbeds, linking with cycleways along quiet country roads. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 ensures that a high degree of access is available to walkers on the bleak and remote moorlands of the North Pennines. Tourism is an important new industry for County Durham.
 

This guidebook contains detailed descriptions of 40 one-day walks, plus 10 interesting traffic-free cycle routes along old railway trackbeds. Together they cover 720km (447 miles), and are spread all over County Durham, to illustrate the region’s history, heritage, countryside and natural wonders. The terrain covered ranges from field paths to open moorlands, from the North Sea to the high Pennines. You will be able to discover the region’s geology, natural history and heritage by following informative trails, or taking in specific sites of interest along the way. A network of tourist information centres can help you discover the best places to stay, how to get around, and what to see. Welcome to ‘Walking in County Durham – the Land of the Prince-Bishops’.
 

Getting to County DURHAM
 

By Air
The two airports most convenient for getting to County Durham are Newcastle (www.newcastleairport.com) and Durham Tees Valley Airport (www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com). There are more flights to and from the former than the latter, but both have good connections with Europe.
 

By Sea
Ferries reach Newcastle from Denmark and Holland on the North Sea, bringing the region within reach the Low Countries. Check ferries with DFDS Seaways (www.dfds.co.uk).
 

By Rail
County Durham prides itself on being the ‘cradle of the railways’, and so arriving by rail ties in well with the heritage of the region. National Express East Coast provides direct rail services to Durham from London Kings Cross and also from Edinburgh (www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com). Cross Country also runs direct services to Durham from points as far afield as Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow (www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk).
 

By Bus
National Express coaches has direct services from London Victoria coach station to Durham, and also from Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester (www.nationalexpress.com). Arriva buses covers most of the northeast, and Durham is one of the hubs in their network (www.arrivabus.co.uk). Classic Coaches also offers an interesting, regular cross-country ‘express’ service from Blackpool to Durham
(www.classic-coaches.co.uk).