The Grey Panthers

This is a linear walk, starting from Witton-le-Wear and ending in Wolsingham. The walk could, of course, be enjoyed in the opposite direction.
The start of the walk from Witton-le-Wear requires a little bit of inside knowledge (possibly) as the Weardale Way footpath is not obvious at the point over the A68 main road. The directions below will, hopefully, help.
There was one other spot where it was possible to go off-course fairly significantly, - where the footpath leaves the Bracken Hill Plantation. Having a 1 : 25000 OS map to hand should help in this respect.
We walked this route in late Spring / early Summer when vegetation was at its most vigorous. Long grass and thick undergrowth somewhat slowed things.
Apart from these difficulties, the walk takes in some superb riverside scenery and some magnificent views and can be thoroughly recommended.

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

Some new mapping software is now available 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 web site, - just use QUO!!

Park In the main street in Witton-le-Wear (NZ147 313). Head West along the street to the main A68 road, and cross this road (this is a busy road with fast traffic so CARE needed).
Turn right and follow a wall for about 100 yards. Where a gap allows you to turn left, continue to the street which runs parallel to the A68. Turn left again, and you SHOULD find a finger post directing you to the Weardale Way footpath.
Cross the field to the field boundary at the corner, then take the waymarked footpath North to Hall Garth Farm. Continue Northwards to McNeil Farm.
Follow the waymarks Northwards to Wadley Farm and onwards to Harperley Hall.
Before Harperley Hall the footpath first crosses a strip of woodland, and then heads across a large arable field to a stile on the other side.
Continue to Low Harperley Farm.
Past the farm the current Weardale Way continues Northwards. However, the original Weardale Way is still waymarked as turning to the left outside the farm buildings, continuing to cross the railway line (where there used to be a station for Low Harperley).
Once over the railway tracks, turn left and after a couple of hundred yards the footpath brings you to the footbridge over the River Wear.
Once over the footbridge, take the footpath that heads uphill Westwards at the edge of a field. When you reach the farm track, turn right and follow the track until you reach the gate leading into Bracken Hill Plantation.
Follow the footpath through the plantation, to meet a Forestry track at the exit.
Follow this Forestry track for a short distance before taking a footpath that heads North to Bradley Cottage.
If you miss this footpath, turn right where a Forestry track meets the one you are on.
Follow waymarks to Bradley Cottage.
From here continue on the footpath beside the River Wear, first through woodland and then over meadows, until you emerge at a farm track.
Turn right, and after crossing the railway line turn left on the track to Wolsingham Station.
Past the station turn right to cross the River Wear by the road bridge, and continue into Wolsingham.
A convenient place to park in Wolsingham is the Demesne Mill Park (NZ075 375),