The Grey Panthers
14 September, - Castle Eden to Seaham Harbour


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11.1 miles

Explorer Map No 308 (Durham and Sunderland)

This is a linear walk, suitable for anybody.
The starting point is at Castle Eden, and after walking through Castle Eden Dene the Durham Coast Path is followed back to Seaham Harbour. The route would be equally enjoyable in reverse.
There are no navigational problems, and no particular gradients.
Choose a fine day with high visibility and you will be richly rewarded. FRom Hawdon Beach it is possible to see all the way North to Sunderland and beyond, and all the way South to Hartlepool and Boulby Head.

Memory Map
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!

Quo logo

Park opposite the Castle Eden Arms (there is a public car park there), - NZ42322 37584.
Follow the waymar just outside this car park to the Castle Eden Walkway, - a disused railway track.
Head Eastwards along the walkway for about one mile. When you come to the signpost indicating the footpath to Castle Eden village, turn left. When you reach the village, cross the road and continue down the road past the church and past the Castle.
When you enter Castle Eden Dene at the main gate, turn right and then head Eastwards through the Dene towards the sea.
When you near the A1085, the "authorised" route takes you up a metalled track to cross the main road.
However, you may also cross the road by following a footpath which takes you through a culvert under the road.
After passing under the railway viaduct, you reach the beach.
Here the path doubles back towards Horden, and thenturns yet again to bring you to the cliff top.
The Durham Coast Path is now very clear and very obvious, leading you all the way Northwards back to Seaham.
There are one or two Denes along the way, where the path goes down and then up again, - but otherwise navigation is very straightforward, especially if you keep the map to hand.