10 miles (tho' actually walked 11.1 miles)

Explorer Map 305 - Bishop Auckland

A walk that SHOULD have been straightforward, but courtesy of civil engineering works closing footpaths and bridleways in Bishop Auckland the walk was somewhat longer than planned. There was little initial warning of these closures, and NO information as to alternative routes, - so having a map to hand was essential.

Apart from the difficulty of the above footpath closures, the walk is relatively straightforward.
There is one very steep climb, - up from the River Wear just past Furness Mill Farm. Although there are steps to help you, this climb is quite steep.
It would not be sensible to do this walk in wet weather, or after heavy rain. There was clear evidence that the River Wear had been in flood, and this would make the walk highly difficult under such conditions.

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 small parking area at the Batts (NZ21081 30354). If you park in Bishop Auckland itself, there is car park in North Bondgate (charges apply).
Walk along the Batts towards Newton Cap Bank, then up Bridge Street to High Bondgate.
From here, walk over the Newton Cap Viaduct following the A689 Northwards until you come to a footbridge over this road.
On the Eastern side of the road, at this point, is a lane. Where the lane turns sharp right, there is a footpath straight ahead that takes you North Westwards to the village on Hunwick. The footpath is waymarked and crosses agricultural land.
In Hunwick, turn right at the village Green, and make for the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.
About 200 yards past the church is a lane which leads to a factory (which appeared to be disused.
Just past the factory is a gate on your right which takes you to a field footpath. Initially follow the hedge line on your left, but then cross the hedge line into the field on your left.
Now take the field footpath which takes you to the Brandon - Bishop Auckland Railway Walk. Follow this walkway to first Sunnybrow and then Willington.
Where the walkway reaches Gardener Avenue, turn right, then almost immediately right again down Chester Drive.
At the bottom of Chester Drive, on your left, is a footpath which leads to a small circle of bungalows (by a school entrance). At this point, on your right, is a footpath that leads down to The Park by the River Wear,
Here turn right and follow the River Wear to Furness Mill Farm.
Just past the farm the path crosses a small stream then rises steeply into woodland.
At the top of the bank, take the footpath on your right which is shown as being the Weardale Way. Follow this to the houses at Station Road.
Here turn left and follow the farm road to Farnley Farm.
At the farm, take the track and footpath South which leads almost all the way back to Bishop Auckland.
Where the footpath is blocked (courtesy of civil engineering work) turn right and follow the track back to the footbridge over the A689.
Now retrace your steps to the car park at the Batts.