The Grey Panthers

The walk is very straightforward and you hardly need a map to follow it, - though having a map always helps.
The walk starts from Durham's Milburngate Bridge, then follows the Weardale Way to Finchale Priory.
Most of the walk is on farm tracks and minor roads, and there are only a couple of modest gradients on the route.

A map of the route followed has been plotted on the Ordnace Survey mapping website, By selecting the ink below you will be taken to this map, - complete with distances and heights marked on the route.

OS Link

The route shown is on a standard map. To view the route on an Ordnace Survey map, select the icon in the lower right of the screen. If the route is dispkayed on a 1:50 OS map, zoom in to see the details on a 1:25 OS map.
There is also the option to view the route in a satellite image.

The described walk starts from where the Park-and-Ride bus drops you off near the Milburngate bridge.
There are car parks in Durham city if you are arriving by car,
http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/3486/Durham-City-car-parks
as well as in "Park and Ride" car parks,-
http://www.durham.gov.uk/parkandride
The "Park and Ride" car parks are particularly convenient as parking is free and the bus fare is £2 for unlimited travel, or free for concessions.
Get off the bus at the Milburngate Bridge, then take the stairs down to the Framwellgate Riverside Walk.
Follow the Riverside Walk past Crook Hall Gardens.
Continue on the Weardale Way to Frankland Farm and then Frankland Prison.
Turn right past the prison for a few yards, then cross the road and take the road to Finchale Priory.
Return along the route you have just taken for the outward journey, though at Frankland Farm you may decide to take the farm road on your right. This affords a fine view of Durham Cathedral.