A guidebook to 40 day walks in County Durham, exploring the wild hills and moorland, rolling pastures, riverbanks and coastline of this varied and historic county. With such a range of possibilities, there are walks here for all levels of experience and fitness. 

The walks are circular, except for two that make use of public transport, and range from 5–24km (3–15 miles) in length.

• 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
• Refreshment and public transport options are given for each walk
• Information given on local history, geology and wildlife
• Easy access from Durham, Darlington, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Local points of interest are featured including High Force waterfall, the Tan Hill Inn and Beamish

Overview map
Map key
Introduction
Getting to County Durham
Getting around County Durham
Geology
Flowers and animals
Scenery
Mining
Railways
Access to the countryside
Maps
What’s the walking like?
Walking and the weather
Tourist information and visitor centres
Emergencies
How to use this guidebook

Routes
1 Durham City and the River Wear
2 Bearpark, Broompark and Brandon
3 Dipton and Hamsterley Mill
4 Beamish and Causey
5 Ouston and Urpeth
6 Lumley Castle and Great Lumley
7 Durham Coast Path
8 Castle Eden Dene
9 Wingate and Station Town
10 Cassop and Quarrington
11 Sedgefield and Hardwick Hall
12 Middleton One Row and Girsby
13 Low and High Coniscliffe
14 Gainford and Piercebridge
15 Cockfield Fell and Butterknowle
16 Woodland and Copley
17 Staindrop and Cleatlam
18 Greta Bridge and Brignall Banks
19 Tan Hill and Sleightholme Moor
20 Bowes and Bowes Moor
21 Barnard Castle and the Tees
22 Cotherstone and Romaldkirk
23 Tees Railway Walk
24 Middleton and Monk’s Moor
25 Middleton and Grassholme
26 Low Force and High Force
27 Holwick and Hagworm Hill
28 Mickle Fell via the Boundary Route
29 Cronkley Fell
30 Cow Green and Widdybank Fell
31 Cow Green and Herdship Fell
32 Bishop Auckland and Binchester
33 Circuit of Crook
34 Wolsingham and Frosterley
35 Wolsingham and Tunstall Reservoir
36 Stanhope and Stanhope Dene
37 Westgate, Middlehope and Rookhope
38 Chapelfell Top and Noon Hill
39 Cowshill, Killhope and Allenheads
40 Edmundbyers and Edmundbyers Common

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts

Seasons

all year round

Centres

Durham, Carlington, Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Stanhope, Consett, Seaham

Difficulty

half- to full-day mostly circular routes; some on high moorland but not difficult

Must See

city of Durham, Bowes Museum, remote high Pennine moors and valleys, High Force on the upper Tees, coastline walks

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