The Grey Panthers

This walk starts from the centre of Bishop Auckland before dropping down to The Dell and a walk beside the River Gaunless.
From the Cemetery, the route continues via the Auckland Walkway to a point where a footpath returns you to Bishop Auckland at The Batts by the River Wear,

A map of the route followed has been plotted on the Ordinance 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 Ordinance Survey map, select the icon in the lower right of the screen. If the route is displayed 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 in the main car park in Bishop Auckland (fee payable).
Walk towards the Market Place then past the entrance to the Bishop's Palace. Head downhill on Durham Road.
Cross over the road to walk down Gib Chare road.
Take the footpath that takes you down The Dell. Continue of the riverside footpath to Bishop Auckland Cemetery.
Leave the cemetery by crossing the bridge over the River Gaunless, then take the gated footpath on your left that takes you on a track up the hill.
Turn right when you meet the footpath to meet the Auckland Walkway (railway footpath)
Follow the Auckland Walkway past New Coundon until you come to a pair of stone bridges that cross the walkway.
A set of steps at the first of these bridges takes you to a footpath that crosses the second bridge.
From the second bridge a field footpath takes you to the road at Jock's Bridge (that crosses the River Gaunless where it flows into the River Wear).
Now walk along The Batts until you pass under the Newton Cap Viaduct.
On your left head up Bridge Street to return to the main car park from where you started.