11.8 miles.
Explorer Map No 305 - Bishop Auckland
A walk through a part of County
Durham that used to be heavily industrialised, - almost exclusively
coal mining, but is now pleasantly rural. The walk takes in woodland
and farmland, and returns alongside the River Wear using the Weardale
Way.
As well as the above walking, there are two churches worth visiting
in Whitworth Park and Byers Green.
Sections of the walk can be muddy in wet weather.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start from Sunderland Bridge at
NZ2657037773. Parking space available both sides of the bridge.
Take the footpath on the Southern side of the bridge into Coldstream
Woods, . After half a mile or so, veer South East, keeping the Nicky
Nack Beck on your right.
When the footpath exits at Nicky Nack Bridge, take the footpath South
East to Tudhoe Village.
Head North West in Tudhoe Village to take the footpath at NZ2573135776
that leads you to Spring Wood.
Here, take the footpath that leads you SSW to Whitworth Park, initially
keeping the beck on your right (some care needed with navigation here,
- there are many paths in Spring Wood, and it is quite easy to follow
the wrong one!).
At Whitworth Park, head NW along the road to Hagg Lane at NZ2349134616,
and follow the lane in a SW direction to reach Byers Green (NZ2253533792).
From Byers Green, follow the road to Todhills and continue along the
roadway (CARE, - TRAFFIC!) down the steep hill to the Jubilee Bridge
over the River Wear (NZ2085234455).
From here, return along the West bank of the River Wear to Sunderland
Bridge, using the Weardale Way.