The Grey Panthers

Explorer Map 306, - Middlesbrough & Hartlepool

A circular walk starting from the village of Hart.
There is some walking over field footpaths, which may be muddy in wet weather.
The main part of the walk uses the Hart-Haswell Walkway, - and old railway track bed. This section of the walk is firm and level.
From Hesleden the route continues to Monk Hesleden, where there is a steep drop into a wooded dene. However, the footpath into, and out of, the dene is in good condition.
This is a very enjoyable walk, with a surprise highlight being the old church graveyard in Monk Hesleden.

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 website, - just use QUO!!

The start of the walk is from the car park outside the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Hart. (NZ47017 35088).
FRom the North East corner of the churchyard, a footpath takes you to North Hart Farm.
The footpath then continues to Nelson Farm, being clearly waymarked along the way. Field gates are used along the way, - there are no stiles to cross.
From Nelson Farm continue Eastwards to cross the main A1086 road. Continue ahead to reach the Hart-Haswell Walkway.
Turn left and continue to Hesleden (where there is a convenient picnic bench).
From Hesleden, return along the Walkway for about 1/2 mile until you come to the road crossing the Walkway that takes you to Monk Hesleden.
Continue Southwards through this village. Ahead you will find the old church graveyard of St. Mary's.
Bear right to cross the graveyard and enter the dene using a low wooden stile.
Take the footpath down into the dene and cross the Crimdon Beck by the footbridge.
AScend out of the dene by the footpath and continue to Nesbitt Hall.
Continue of the track South of Nesbitt Hall until it turns sharp right.
At this point there is a track on your left which returns you to Hart village.