The Grey Panthers

Explorer Map 305, - Bishop Auckland

A straightforward walk, with few navigational difficulties and the easiest of gradients.
The highlight of the walk is a visit to Brancepeth, with its unique houses, castle, and the church of St. Brandon.
The return leg of the walk follows the Weardale Way beside the River Wear.
This can be quite muddy in parts, and in wet weather when the river is running high it may not be advisable to walk in this area. There were obvious signs of previous flood damage beside the river.

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 by Sunderland Bridge (NZ26459 37814).
Take the Weardale Way footpath (a broad track) that passes under the railway viaduct.
Where the Weardale Way leaves this track, do not take the left turn but continue to follow the track past Holywell Farm.
When the farm track meets the minor road, turn right to continue along the road until it meets the A690 main road.
Here turn left and walk along the pavement until you come to Brancepeth village.
Turn left in Brancepeth village to visit the Church of St. Brandon. Although you pass the castle, there is no entry into the castle.
Return to Brancepeth village, and cross the A690. Continue to the parking area where Brancepeth Station used to be situated. This is the start of the section of the railway walkway that continues to Bishop Auckland.
Follow the railway Walkway to where the footpath crosses near Park House.
Here turn left and follow the path to the A690. After crossing the road, take the track that leads to a Learning Centre and continue past the buildings.
Where this track ends, enter the field gate and head South South Eastwards with the fence on your right.
At the bottom of the field there is a metal stile. After crossing the stile, head to the next metal stile at the bottom of the field (keeping the hedge on your left).
Cross the stile and turn left along the farm track.
You are now on the Weardale Way footpath. Follow this all the way back to Sunderland Bridge.