The Grey Panthers

Explorer Maps 307 & 308, - Consett / Durham & Sunderland

This walk uses mostly easy paths and tracks, with just one significant uphill gradient (though even this should present few problems). There are several stiles to negotiate.
The walk starts in Langley Park, where the road leading to "Digger Land" provides a convenient parking area close to the Lanchester Valley Walkway.
The walk takes in Esh, Quebec and Hamsteels which at one time had been heavily involved in the coal mining industry (as had Langley Park), but there is now almost nothing to be seen of this past industry. Instead, there is some superb countryside to enjoy.

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 road outside "Digger Land" in Langley Park (NZ211 451).
Head along this road to the main road into Langley Park, and cross over this road to take the Lanchester Valley Walkway heading East. After about 1/4 mile there is a road that cuts across the Walkway. Turn right here, then take the waymarked footpath that heads across the Langley Park Old Rec, now the "Sir Bobby Robson Park". Now take the footpath up the hill heading Southwards.
At the top of the hill, follow the road South Westwards for a short distance, before taking the signposted footpath South in the direction of Ushaw College.
When this footpath crosses a track, turn right. Cross the road and take the farm track to Esh (passing Low Esh Farm).
Continue ahead at Esh (though a brief diversion to view Esh Cross is recommended) along the farm track that eventually leads to the outskirts of Esh Winning.
When you reach the houses at Esh Winning, turn sharp right and follow the farm track (Deere Street) to Quebec.
Head along Front Street in Quebec, past the Church of St. John the Baptist, Hamsteels (now a private residence).
At Wilks Hill, turn right along the farm track and continue on the footpath to Hamsteels Bank.
When you reach the road, turn right and continue until you reach the houses at Biggin Terrace.
Turn left along the farm track to Biggen House Farm.
Turn left at the farm, then take the footpath across fields to the Malton Nature Reserve.
At Malton, cross the Browney River then almost immediately take the Lanchester Valley Walkway to return to Langley Park.