The Grey Panthers

This is a there-and-back walk using farm tracks, farm roads, and the railway walkway. There are virtually no gradients, and there are no stiles or obstacles.
Although the walk is very straightforward and needs no navigational skills, it still repays the walker with pleasant countryside views.
At the end of the walk a visit is paid to the delightful Church of St. Brandon in Brancepeth, Brancepeth Castle, and Brancepeth Village itself.

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.

Park by Sunderland Bridge (NZ26459 37814).
Take the Weardale Way footpath (a broad track) that passes under the Croxdale Viaduct.
(At the Sunderland Bridge end there is a wooded footpath close to the river that runs parralel to this track for about 100 yards. This is worth using in dry weather.)
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.
At the main road, turn right for a very short distance then cross the road. Continue Northwards on the road to Brandon.
After about 100 yards, before you reach a pub, turn left onto the Brandon-Bishop Auckland Railway path.
Follow the railway path for about 1 mile until you come to the road by the Brancepeth Railway Station car park.
Here turn left and walk to Brancepeth Village.
Cross the A690 road (CARE needed) and continue to Brancepeth Castle and St. Brandon's Church, Brancepeth.
Retrace your steps back to Sunderland Bridge.