11.1 miles
Explorer Map 308, - Durham & Sunderland.
A walk for any time of the year, which is basically very straightforward
and provides a varity of walking over well-defined paths.
BUT.......
The walk described involved following a footpath directly through
Hawthorn Dene. This footpath was very faint in parts, and followed
steep and overgrown parts of the Dene. You should only follow
this path if you are confident in your abilities.
Otherwise, follow the clearly defined paths that are available,
and the walk affords a very pleasant day out.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 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 website, - just use QUO!!
Start from the car park in Seaham that overlooks the
Harbour (NZ43020 49665).
Head South along the road that runs past the Harbour until you comes
to the track (that leaves the main road) and leads to Noses Point.
At Noses Point there is a low stone shelter that overlooks the coastline,
and nearby are various interpretative boards.
Continue along the clearly defined path until you come to a brick
bridge that crosses the main railway line.
After crossing the railway line, follow the footpath that is beside
the line until you are beside another railway crossing. (At a stile).
Here turn right, and then shortly afterwards take the Path South into
Hawthorn Dene.
Cross the Hawthorn Burn by the footbridge then follow the well marked
and easy to follow footpath up to the Trig Point on Beacon Hill.
From Beacon Hill take the track to Easington Lea Farm.
Just past the farm entrance, there is a footpath across a field that
takes you to a grassy track that heads West.
Follow this track all the way to the B1432 Sunderland road.
Turn right and follow the road (pavement all the way) to Hawthorn
village,
In the village, head down the main street past the Church to a small
grassy area with a bench.
Retrace your steps down the main street, and at the end turn left.
Taje the well marked footpath South Eastwards to Hawthorne Dene.
When you enter the Dene, follow the path (down steps) into the Dene
where you cross the Hawthorn Beck via a footbridge.
You initially ascend out of the Dene, but towards the top of the bank
there is a faint footpath that continues through the Dene itself.
This footpath is very faint in parts, and takesa lot of concentration
to follow over rough ground.
Eventually, the footpath leads you to a clearing by some Beech trees,
where you descend to cross the Hawthorn Beck by a well used path.
This path then joins a very well used and clear track which takes
you back to the mouth of the Dene near the railway viaduct.
Here, retrace your steps back to Seaham.