Weardale Way - Day 3
Finchale Priory to Shincliffe and return
Co Durham
Distance 28.5km Climb 201m
Tuesday 6 June 2017
I had walked from Worm Hill to Finchale Priory in March, the second part of my 124 km Weardale Way shown on the LDWA website. Today was my third day and I was going to walk a little further.
I parked the car in a lay-by on Cocken Road, North of Finchale Priory and took the steep steps down to the river.
Through the grounds of Finchale Priory a road to my left leads up to the caravan site. I continued through the grounds looking for a sign that I was on the Weardale Way. As I have found in my previous walks, signs are rare and it is only looking on the LDWA site I had an idea which direction I was going to walk in. I did not want to use a map it was all part of the adventure.
Once through the grounds I left the private road of Finchale Priory and followed the public road as it twisted lazily south west. A sharp left turn by Priory Cottage and I was heading south. Far across the fields to my left I could see the spire of the church at West Rainton. The showers were becoming more persistent but for the moment were still only showers.
Reaching a road junction where HM Prison Frankland was directly to my front a sign showed the Way was a right turn, west. After a couple of hundred meters another sign led me south again between the prison and Low Newton Remand Centre. After a short walk through a car park the path becomes a footpath with hedges that hide the high walls to my left, moving south, then turning south east. Another sharp right turn, south west as the Way passes Dovecote Farm Boarding Kennels and Cattery. It was pleasant walking along here, the rain had stopped, briefly.
As the track started to drop slightly down hill, I saw a soggy looking pheasant in the field to my left.
A little further and the field on my right was full of cows, crows and pheasants. Broom was growing on the left of the track and sheep were baaing in the field to my left looking wet and miserable.
At the bottom of the bank a Way sign took me slightly left, south, through Frankland Farm. As I turned up the track to the right, I had my first view of Durham Cathedral. This is where the signs differ slightly to the LDWA website route. The signs take you around the building on a footpath while the map keeps you on the tarmac road. Nothing major as they both join up a little later down the slope. A sharp right turn behind the building then after a few meters a sharp left turn onto another tarmac road heads down hill. Walking down here I could see and hear the main Edinburgh to London rail line heading into and out of Durham to my right. To my left it was the traffic on the busy A690, I could hear and see, heading into and out of Durham.
Walking down the road I caught a glimpse of the River Wear just before I re-joined the road I had left at Frankland Farm. This was my first glimpse of the River Wear since crossing it at Finchale Priory. The road then continues between crop fields and passes what smells like a water treatment works before turning sharp right onto a wider road. This is Frankland Lane, and follows the river into Durham City. Passing Crook Hall on its way.
I continued by the river passing the Radisson Blu Hotel on my right and a footbridge over the river on my left.
A couple of cormorants were warming their wings during a brief break in the showers.
Approaching Milburngate Bridge I could see a lot of work was under way developing the area to my right, which had once been the old passport office.
The LDWA website shows the Weardale Way crosses the river at Framwelgate Bridge. I decided to continue on the west side of the river and take the picture below. This view of the Cathedral is similar to a picture my Mam had of the Cathedral hanging on a wall at our house when I was a child. Minus the scaffolding and covering on the tower.
I crossed at Prebends Bridge dropping down to the Count's House as the river starts to turn north east. A sign shows the Count's House was a folly. It was lovely and pleasant along here although a little damp.
I saw a number of rowing sculls some with four and a cox others with only two, as they were working out up and down the river. I thought Tuesday must be their training day. It was much later on my walk I saw a sign showing that it was the Durham Regatta this coming weekend.
From north east the river turns north under Elvet Bridge and the footpath follows.
The river then turns east and the footpath follows. There are signs that part of the footpath is closed but not knowing exactly where this was I continued on this side passed Baths Bridge. More rowing sculls came down the river. Eventually I came to the part of the path that was closed and it was on my side, so I turned back and crossed at Baths Bridge. Just as the showers turned into a heavy downpour of rain.
I was now on the south side of the river with the cricket ground to my right and saw a sign for the Weardale Way. The LDWA website has the route on the north side, perhaps it had changed due to the closed footpath on the north side.
Passing the bandstand to my left, people where running for shelter. I could see why the footpath on the north side had been closed. Repair work was taking place on the far side, it looked like there had been a large landslip.
Passed the Rowing Club I took a path below Maiden Castle Wood and was directed by a Weardale Way sign towards this bridge. No further signs indicated whether I should cross or stay on this side. I crossed and followed the path beside the river on my right and rugby fields to my left, turning south east and south. The rain had eased slightly.
It did not matter which path I had taken as both paths ended up at Shincliffe Bridge.
There were no Weardale Way signs on the east side so I crossed to the west side to see if I could find any signs there, no. Walking a little by the river I found I was on the Houghall Discovery Trail. I walked a few hundred meters on and I was not happy that I was on the right route, so I turned around and returned to the bridge.
Walking over the bridge I could see a path by the river but no sign. I continued passed the pub and saw a footpath sign by Low Road. Again I was not sure but thought I would follow the sign to see where it would lead. I walked along the road passed the garden centre towards Shincliffe Hall. Where I finally saw confirmation from a Weardale Way sign that I was once again on the right route.
It would soon be time to stop and turn round. The path was nice and the trees gave me some protection against the rain, I could hear heavy rain hitting the leaf canopy above my head. After a few hundred meters I was once again by the River Wear. A short walk along by the river then I stopped for my sandwiches and a cup of hot chocolate.
After my break I decided to head back, I had stopped approx. 1 km south west from Shincliffe Hall.
On my return, when I reached Shincliffe Hall instead of continuing along the road I saw a path north along the edge of a field that led me to the river, I was looking for Weardale Way signs, there was none.
The path took me along the flood bank. I had seen a notice board on the Houghall Discovery Trail which told me 14th century monks built some of the flood bank in this area to protect the plain, perhaps this was one of them?
The path led back to Shincliffe Bridge and the pub car park. I crossed to the west side and followed the footpath by the river on the opposite side to the way I had come, again looking for the Weardale Way signs, again I saw none.
Passing below Maiden Castle Wood I saw more rowers. It was as I passed the Rowing Club I saw a banner advising Durham Regatta was on this weekend. I hope they have better weather than today. I was near the bandstand when the rain became heavier.
I crossed Baths Bridge.
Instead of crossing at Prebends Bridge after Count's Corner I continued on what was now the east side of the river heading north.
Crossing at Framwelgate Bridge, returning to the river down some steps. I continued out of Durham City on the same route I had walked in on. The rain was not stopping, it may have eased a little in the shelter of the trees but much of this part of the walk was in the open. Passed open wheat fields where even the poppies looked battered.
Turning up the footpath to Frankland Farm, the road looks like a river.
Passed the field where the sheep looked even more fed up and soggy. Again here I had a little shelter from the rain due to the trees that lined the path as I headed towards Dovecot Farm Boarding Kennels and Cattery.
Back between the high walls and fences of the prison and remand centre.
Through the car park and turning right at the road. Then left towards Finchale Priory.
Along a wet damp road, that twisted and turned slightly, finally dropping down to Finchale Priory. Pass the Priory to cross the bridge.
On the other side it only remained to climb the steep steps back to the lay-by and the car.
Although wet I had enjoyed my walk. Especially as I pulled on a dry top and had a warm cup of hot chocolate sitting in my car to finish with.
I had covered 28.5 km with 201m climb.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Weardale Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Follow link to previous walk on Weardale Way Worm Hill to Finchale Priory.
Follow link to next walk on Weardale Way Shincliffe to Willington
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