Guided countryside walks
County Durham's beautiful countryside is home to a wide variety of plants and animals and the area has a fascinating historical and geological heritage.
All are welcome to come and explore with us as we have walks to suit everyone including short, easy walks and long, hard hikes. Unless stated, simply turn up as there is no need to book. Walks are £4.
Useful information about our walks
Estimated timings
Duration of the walk is a guide only. Pace depends on numbers and fitness of the group and weather conditions. The leader will adapt the walk to suit the pace of the slowest participant. All walks are circular unless otherwise stated.
Severe weather
In severe weather conditions, contact us to see if the walk is going ahead.
Postcodes
Nearest postcodes are included, but they may not be the exact start location. Some locations are remote and the postcode given may be some distance away, consult a map.
Cost
The guided walks are £4.
Clothing and smoking
Boots and waterproofs are advisable on all walks. Jeans are not appropriate.
Walks are non-smoking.
Lunch
A packed lunch is required where stated. Please bring this with you. Please also make sure you have enough drinks for the duration of the walk.
Public transport
Some walk start locations can be accessed by public transport. Please check available services at Traveline North East.
Dogs
Well behaved dogs kept on a short, fixed lead are allowed on walks, unless otherwise stated. Routes may be long and over steep ground with stiles to cross. Dogs remain the responsibility of the owner. We reserve the right to refuse your dog onto the walk.
Car parking
Ensure parking does not create a hazard and does not obstruct entrances or other traffic. Please car share or use public transport wherever possible.
Key to walk difficulty
Very Easy - Walk suitable for most levels of fitness. Good paths, relatively flat, possibly a few stiles. Stout shoes needed.
Easy - Walks suitable for people with reasonable levels of fitness. Covering uneven ground, streams, inclines and stiles. Boots essential.
Moderate - Requires a good level of fitness. Walks through some rough moorland with steep or strenuous climbs. Boots essential.
Hard - Requires a very good level of fitness and previous walking experience. Stiles, steep and strenuous climbs on rough and variable track surfaces. Strong boots essential.
Getting there
Map references - six figure references indicate the starting point of the walk. They can be used to find a place on a 1:50 000 or 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey map. For instructions on reading grid references (GR) see map or go to Ordnance Survey. Lr = Landranger, OL = Outdoor Leisure, Ex = Explorer.
Walks
March
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 21 March | Whitworth, Bishop Auckland and Old Railway Paths | 10:30am (5 hours) 10 and a half miles, David and Fiona Eltringham Start: Public Car Park (Jubilee Nature area) by River Wear at Low Willington, off Stony Bank (road to Binchester). Jubilee Bridge, Willington, Crook, DL15 0DJ. GR NZ 208344, OS Map Lr93 Local history, bring a packed lunch, cost. Easy walk |
| Saturday 25 March | Catterick and Carrs Top (new walk) | 10.00am (5 and a half hours) 10 and a half miles, Dianne Hannaby Start: Frosterley station, Bridge End, Frosterley, DL13 2SL. GR NZ 023369, OS map EXOL31 Views, bring a packed lunch, cost. Moderate walk |
| Wednesday 29 March | To Witton-le-Wear | 10.00am (6 and a half hours) 13 miles, Dianne Hannaby Start: Bishop Auckland Rugby Ground, Bridge Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PA. GR NZ 203299, OS map Ex305 Views, bring a packed lunch, cost. Easy walk |
| Friday 31 March | Frosterley marble and a disappearing river | 10.00am (5 and a half hours) 10 miles, Jo Davies Start: Demesne Mill picnic area, Uppertown, Wolsingham on B6296, DL13 3DB. GR NZ 075375, OS map Ex OL31 Bring a packed lunch, cost. Easy walk |
April
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 1 April | Romaldkirk in the springtime | 10:30am (4 hours) 7 miles, moderate. Steven and Janet Hutchinson Start: Romaldkirk village, meet at the Church of St Romald, Romaldkirk. Please park with consideration. DL12 9EE. GR NY 995221. OS map ExOL31. Local history, nature, price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Sunday 2 April | Five Bridges in Teesdale | 10:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, moderate, David Butler Start: Entrance to Bowes Museum, Newgate, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NP. GR NZ 055161. OS maps Lr92, ExOL31 Local history, price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Tuesday 4 April | Wolsingham and Tunstall Reservoir | Wolsingham and Tunstall Reservoir, 11:00am (4.5 hours) 8 miles, easy. David and Fiona Eltringham Start: Demesne Mill Picnic Area, Uppertown, Wolsingham on B6296. GR NZ 076375. OS map 92, Local history, price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Wednesday 5 April | Coast and Country (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 9.5 miles, easy, Yvonne Andrews Start: North Beach Coffee Bar, North Road, Seaham, County Durham. SR7 7AG. GR NZ 423507. OS map Ex308 Local history, price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Friday 7 April | Foxholes and Rowley | 10:30am, (4.5 hours) 7.5 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Watergate picnic area on Stanhope road, ¼ mile from Castleside crossroads. DH8 9AP. GR NZ 078484. OS map Ex307 Local history, price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Saturday 8 April | Conga along the Congburn | 10:00am, (5 hours) 9 miles, easy. Brian Lander Start: Waldridge Fell, First Car Park on the left coming in from Waldridge Village. DH2 3RY. GR NZ 253496. OS map Ex308 Local history, nature, price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Wednesday 12 April | On the Rocks | 10:00am, (5 hours) 9 miles, moderate, Maria Todd and Sheila Pinkney Start: Blackhall Rocks car park. TS27 4AZ, GR NZ 471387, OS maps Ex306, Ex308 Price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Friday 14 April | Red Kites and Pots of Gold (NEW) | 10:00am, (5 hours) 9.5 miles, easy, Peter Weighill Start: Lintzford Garden Centre, Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear off A694. NE39 1DG. GR NZ 146569. OS Map 307. Price for walk £4, Packed lunch is required. |
| Saturday 15 April | Three in One | 10:00am (5 hours) 9.5 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Ebchester Station picnic area, Ebchester off B6309. DH8 0SU, GR NZ 107548, OS map Ex307 Price for walk £4, Packed lunch required |
| Wednesday 19 April | Crimdon Coastal Walk (NEW) | 10:00am (4.5 hours) 8.5 miles,easy, Des Lee Start: Dunes Café at Crimdon, Coast Road, Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, TS27 4BL. GR NZ 482372, OS map Ex306 Local history. Price for walk £4, packed lunch required but there is a fish and chip shop at halfway point. |
| Friday 21 April | Abandon 'Hope and head for 'Holm (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, moderate, Jo Davies Start: Broom House Farm, Long Edge, Witton Gilbert, DH7 6TR. By kind permission. GR NZ 215475. OS maps Lr88, Ex308. Price for walk £4, Packed lunch required (refreshments available in café after) |
| Sunday 23 April | Landscape Mysteries and Hidden Histories - Kitty's Wood (NEW) | 1:00pm (2 hours) 2 miles, easy, David Papadopoulos Start: Crook Leisure Centre car park, B6298, Crook, County Durham, Dl15 9AH, OS Map Ex305, GR NZ162364 Price for walk £4, slow walk focused on creativity: landscape and imagination, camera or notebook could be useful. |
| Wednesday 26 April | Low Harperley Hall and Trig (NEW) | 10:00am (5.5 hours) 10.5 miles, moderate, Dianne Hannaby Start: Demesne Mill picnic area, Uppertown, Wolsingham on B6296. DL13 3D8, GR NZ 075375. OS Map Ex92. Nature, exercise, Price for walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Friday 28 April | Brandon Village and New Brancepeth (NEW) | 10:00am (4 hours) 8 miles, easy, Dianne Hannaby. Start: Broompark picnic area, ½ mile from Stonebridge roundabout on B6302 towards Ushaw Moor. DH7 7RJ. GR NZ 250415 Nature, exercise, price for walk £4, packed lunch required. |
May
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 3 May | Baybridge - Harwood Shield | 10:00am (6 hours) 10.5 miles, moderate, Jo Davies. Start: Baybridge picnic area, ½ mile west of Blanchland. DH8 9UB, GR NY 956499, OS maps Ex307 and Ex OL43 Local history, price for walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Thursday 4 May | Monks and Miners | 10:00am (6 hours) 10.5 miles, moderate, David Butler. Start: Broom House Farm, Long Edge, Witton Gilbert, DH7 6TR. By kind permission. GR NZ 215475. OS maps Lr88, Ex308 Local history, price for walk £4, packed lunch required (refreshments available in café after) |
| Friday 5 May | North and South of Hamsterley | 10:00am (4.5 hours) 8.5 miles, easy, Dianne Hannaby Start: East end of Hamsterley Village, (park with consideration) DL12 3PR, GR NZ 120310. OS map Ex305 Nature, exercise, price for walk £4, packed lunch required |
| Sunday 7 May | A Woodland Wonder (with Bluebells) | 10:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, easy, Brian Lander Start: Sunderland Bridge, old road over River Wear, Croxdale, off B6300, DH6 5JL, GR NZ 265377, OS Map Ex305 Local history, price for walk £4, packed lunch required |
| Wednesday 10 May | Waldridge and Craghead Circular | 10:00am (5 hours) 9.5 miles, moderate, Eric Borley Start: First car park west of Waldridge Fell village, DH2 3RY, NZ 251498, OS Map Ex308 Local history, nature, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Thursday 11 May | Cockfield and Butterknowle | 11:00am (4 hours) 7.5 miles moderate David and Fiona Eltringham Start: Cockfield War Memorial on Front Street. GR NZ 243123. OS map Ex92. Parking in village. Local History and Hay Meadows, Nature, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Friday 12 May | Whinny Lane and the Elusive Path | 10:30am (4 hours) 7 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Ebchester Station picnic area, Ebchester off B6309, DH8 0SU. GR NZ 107548. OS map Ex307. Local History, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Saturday 13 May | Kelloe and the Raisby Way | 10:00am (5.5 hours) 10.5 miles, easy, Brian Lander Start: Littlewood LNR Car Park, opposite Cassop School on B6291, DH6 4RA. GR NZ 340383, OS Maps Ex305 Local History, Nature, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Wednesday 17 May | Filling a Gap | 10:00am (5 hours) 10.5 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre Staff car park (with kind permission - refreshments available in café after). Signs from roundabout on B1284 from A690 southwest of Houghton- le -spring. DH4 6PU. GR NZ 325486, OS map Ex308. Local History, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Thursday 18 May | Industry Leisure and Art (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 10 miles, easy, Yvonne Andrews. Start: Dalton Park, meet near steps behind the Dancing Betty Pub. SR7 9HU. GR NZ 402467. OS Maps Ex308, LR88. Buses: 22,22A, 23, 61,61A, 65, 861, x6, x10 Local History, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Friday 19 May | Riding the Teams along Clarty Lane (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, easy, Peter Weighill Start: The Plough Inn, High Flatts, between South Pelaw and Pelton, County Durham. DH2 1BL. GR NZ 261526. OS maps Ex308 Price of walk £4, packed lunch required |
| Saturday 20 May | To Cotherstone | 10:00am, (6.5 hours) 12.5 miles, moderate. Dianne Hannaby Start: Mickleton Station car park on Tees Railway Path off B6277. DL12 DJN. GR NY 968234 Nature, exercise, price of walk £4, packed lunch required |
| Wednesday 24 May | Crime and Punishment in Durham | 6:30pm, (2.5 hours) 3 miles, easy, David Butler Londonderry Statue, Market Place, Durham City (off A690). DH1 3NJ. GR NZ 274426. OS maps Lr88, Ex308 Local history, price of walk £4 |
| Friday 26 May | A Dam Good Walk | 10:30am, (4 hours) 7 miles, very easy, Jo Davies Start: Pow Hill low car park, Derwent Reservoir off B6306. DH8 9NU. Grid NZ 011516. OS map Ex307 Local History, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Saturday 27 May | As well as the Plough a sight of the Cow (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 10.5 miles, easy, Bryan Oxberry Start: Park in layby in front of Cassop Primary School on B6291. DH6 4RA. GR NZ 334377. OS Map Ex307. Local history, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Sunday 28 May | A Walk in the Past (NEW) | 10:00am (4.5 hours) 8.5 miles, easy, Des Lee Start: North side of Hardwick Park Visitors Centre, Sedgefield, Stockton-On-Tees. Please see walk leader for free parking pass. TS21 2DN. GR NZ 345287. OS Map Ex305. Local History, price of walk £4. Packed lunch required. |
| Wednesday 31 May | Cuckoo Bridge, Raven's Crag and other Delights | 10:00am (4.5 hours) 8 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Allensford picnic area, west car park, off A68 north of Castleside. DH8 9BA. GR NZ 077502. OS map Ex307 Local history, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
June
| Date | Name of walk | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 2 June | Hedleyhope Fell & Cornsay | 10:30am (4.5 hours) 8 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Hedleyhope Fell upper car park, B6301 between Lanchester and Tow Law. DH7 9EX. GR NZ 149414. OS map Ex307 Local history, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Saturday 3 June | Pikeston Fell and Sharnberry Gill (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 10 miles, moderate, Dianne Hannaby Start: Car park on Stanhope to Eggleston Road, B6278. DL12 OSA, GR NY 997306 Nature, exercise, price of walk £4, packed lunch required |
| Sunday 4 June | Low Newton and Frankland Wood | 1:30pm (3 hours) 5 miles, easy, David Butler Start: Millennium Bridge (west end), Frankland Lane, Durham City, DH1 5TA. GR NZ 273429. OS maps Lr88, Ex308 Local history, price of walk £4 |
| Wednesday 7 June | Stomping through the heather | 10:00am (6.5 hours) 12 miles, hard, Jo Davies Start: Lay-by near Rookhope arch, on the Rookhope to Allenheads road. DL13 2DE. GR NY 924430. OS maps OL31, Ex307. Local history, exercise, countryside views, price for walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Thursday 8 June | St Johns Chapel and Cowshill | 11:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, moderate David and Fiona Eltringham Start: Cattle Market, St John's Chapel, off A689. GR NY 886379. OS map 92, Explorer OL31. No CP Charge Local history and Hay meadows, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Saturday 10 June | Let's bag a dewey today | 10:00am (4.5 hours) 9 miles, easy, Bryan Oxberry Start: Parkhead Station Car Park, Waskerly Way, Crawleyside Bank on B6278, Stanhope to Edmundbyers Road. DL13 2ES. GR NZ 002431, OS Ex307. Views. Local History, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Wednesday 14 June | Newfield. Bishop Auckland and the Weardale way | 10:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, easy. Brenda Peppin and Ruth Elliott Start: Car park Jubilee Nature Area west of Jubilee Bridge, Stony Bank. DL15 0DJ. GR NZ 208345. OS Map Ex 305. Local History, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Saturday 17 June | To Cassop Vale and Back | 10:00am (6 hours) 10.5 miles, moderate. Brenda Peppin and Ruth Elliott Start: Hallgarth Manor Hotel car park (with kind permission), High Pittington, DH6 1AB. GR NZ 328437. OS Map Ex308 Local history, nature, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Sunday 18 June | Cotherstone and Lartington Park | 10:30am (5 hours) 9 miles, moderate, Ian Gray Start: Post Office, Galgate, Barnard Castle, DL12 8BE. GR NZ 049166. OS Maps 92 OL31. Local history, Price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Wednesday 21 June | Circulus de Concangis (NEW) | 10:00am (5 hours) 9 miles, easy, Peter Weighill Start: Waldridge Lane, Chester Moor off A167. GR NZ 265492. OS map Ex308. Price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Friday 23 June | A Walk in the Park (NEW) | 10:00am (4 hours) 7.5 miles, easy, Brian Lander Start: Sunderland Bridge, old road over River Wear, Croxdale, off B6300, DH6 5JL, GR NZ 265377, OS Map Ex305. Local History, Nature, price for walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Saturday 24 June | Edmundbyers to the Chimney | 10:00am (5 hours) 10 miles, moderate Steven and Janet Hutchinson Start: St Edmund's Church, Church Lane, Edmundbyers, Consett DH8 9NQ (park with consideration). GR NZ 017501. OS Map Ex307. Local history, exercise, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Wednesday 28 June | Monks Moor | 10:00am (5.5 hours) 10.5 miles, moderate, Dianne Hannaby Start: Middleton- In- Teesdale, Fountain on B6282. DL12 0SH. GR NY 947254. Nature, exercise, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
| Friday 30 June | Westwood Ho! | 10:30am (5 hours) 8 miles, easy, Jo Davies Start: Ebchester Station picnic area, Ebchester, off B6309. DH8 0SU. GR NZ 107548. OS map Ex307 Local history, price of walk £4, packed lunch required. |
Contact us
- Countryside Service
- countryside@durham.gov.uk
- 03000 264 589
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