The Grey Panthers

This walk starts by visiting the remains Roman Fort (Vinovium) at Binchester. As well as the previously excavated remains which are joined by walkways and have interpretative boards, there are some recent excavations which may be visited.
From the fort at Binchester, there is a field footpath to Bellburn Woods.
Bellburn Woods is a stretch of deciduous woodland, which provides some delightful walking (especially so in the Spring-time).
From the woodland, a railway walkway (the Auckland Way) returns you to the outskirts of Bishop Auckland, and a footpath brings you back to the town centre.
Although it is possible to walk directly from the town centre back to the starting point (at The Batts), an attractive alternative is to walk through the Deer Park beside the River Gaunless. However, the exit from this section of the walk involves ducking under an arched bridge and climbing up a steep bank. You need to be fairly sure footed to do this.

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!!

Start from the car park at Batts beside the river Wear in Bishop Auckland (NZ21074 30352).
Head Eastwards beside the road for about 1/2 mile, until you see the entrance to the Roman fort at Binchester clearly indicated on your right.
After visiting the Roman fort, return along the road towards your starting point. Where the road bends, a footpath is indicated on your left.
Follow this footpath to Bellburn Woods.
Shortly after entering the woods, take the footpath indicated on your right.
This footpath takes you in an Easterly direction through the woods to meet the railway walkway (Auckland Way).
Turn right and follow the walkway all the way to where it ends at a busy traffic roundabout.
Here, take the footpath on your right that takes you back to Bishop Auckland.
When you reach the entrance to the Palace, turn right and walk to the Deer Park.
Immediately on entering the Deer Park, take the path on your right that brings you down to the River Gaunless.
Now follow paths and tracks beside the river until you are at a bridge over the River Gaunless.
Don't cross the bridge but turn left and follow the (faint) footpath to Jock's Bridge.
Cross under the bridge, Care needed, especially if the river is running high. Also, there is a pipeline running under the bridge which you need to duck under.
Once on the other side of Jock's Bridge, scramble up the river bank.
Return to the car park at The Batts.