Weardale Way - Chester-le-Street to Durham City - Co Durham 28 Nov 2017

Weardale Way
Chester-le-Street to Durham City
Co Durham
Distance 17.5km Climb 220m
Tuesday 28 November 2017

Today I was checking out a route for a walk, I will hopefully be doing in a few weeks time, with some friends. I had previously walked along parts of this route earlier in the year. As part of the 124km Weardale Way. Walking from Worm Hill to Finchale Priory in March 2017 and from Finchale Priory to Shincliffe in June 2017. It would be interesting to see if there had been any changes.

I scrounged a lift to the Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street from my friend Lisa. The weather was bright, crisp and clear a lovely day for walking. Walking into the park I took a few photos. I returned to the B1284 Ropery Lane and turned east. After the bridge Ropery Lane becomes the Lumley New Road.

Crossing over the River Wear, I took the first turning left towards the Chester-le-Street Golf Course Club House. Footpath signs and the Cuddy's Corse sign directed me north and west over the Golf Clubs overflow carpark to the footpath by the River Wear. "Cuddys Corse" is a walk along which the St Cuthbert's Community carried St Cuthbert's coffin, the Lindisfarne Gospels and other relics from other Saints from Chester-le-Street eventually ending up in Durham.

On the riverside I turned right and headed north along by the golf course, I was just wandering about, looking to see how it changed in Autumn. After about 300 meters I turned round and retraced my steps back down the footpath, following the River south. Passing under Lumley New Road, across the River I could see the Riverside Durham Cricket Ground on the opposite bank.

After walking by the River the path moves left slightly climbing away from the River, funnelled between fences and trees. At the top there is a style to climb, the route is across a track. On the other side is another style as the footpath heads further up hill through a small wood. Coming out of the wood the path heads south east by the edge of the wood along the side of an open field.

At the top of the field turn east following a hedge line as it climbs to the top of the field. Cross the style directional signs show turn right, south.

To the right there is another style. Once over this style the footpath climbs steadily upward heading south, by the edge of a field. The bright clear sunshine soon disappeared and was replaced by dark wet clouds. It soon started raining, mixed in with the rain were snow flurries. 

At the top of the field the path turns sharp left, east, up to the road. I was now at Great Lumley. I turned right then left onto Front Street.

Today I continued east along Front Street to have a look about.

I followed a footpath sign south down Hazel Leigh, through the park and some house eventually coming out onto Exeter Close. Over the road was the footpath I had walked down on my previous walk this way.

Continuing south the footpath comes out on the road, Cocken Lane near Charles Pit cottages. Following the road right, south. Walking across the fields, at times the rain had turned to hail.

The road drops and climbs a little up to a T junction with Cocken Road. Follow the Weardale Way sign left, east. 

After turning left, approx 100m there is a lay-by on the right. A little along the lay-by there are steep steps that took me down to the River Wear again. Through the trees I could see Finchale Priory. At the bottom of the steps turn right up to the bridge and cross the bridge over the River Wear to The Priory.

I spent a little time wandering about the Priory. Stopping in the shelter of the frater undercroft for a drink of hot chocolate. It was raining heavy now, just like my walk here in June.

Leaving the shelter of the undercroft I continued, following the road west as it climbs from Finchale Priory. I continued on the public road as it twisted lazily south west. A sharp left turn by Priory Cottage and I was heading south. At times the rain eased a little and a watery sun appeared briefly.

Reaching the road junction where HM Prison Frankland was directly to my front, a sign shows a right turn, west. After a hundred meters another sign led me south again between the prison and Low Newton Remand Centre. After a short walk through the car park there is a path next to the wall and a path to the right, take the path too the right.  

The path soon 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 Cuddy's Corse passes Dovecote Farm Boarding Kennels and Cattery. It was pleasant walking along here, especially as it had stopped raining.

It was along here I caught my first glimpse of Durham Cathedral, through a gap in the trees to my left. On my earlier walk in June you could not have seen the Cathedral due to the blooming trees.

As the fields opened to my right I could see a train on the busy Edinburgh to London train line. At the bottom of the bank at a track T junction a sign took me slightly left, south, through Frankland Farm.

At the farm, I knew there was a footpath sign on a post by the last building, today it was difficult to see. The signs take you around the building a sharp right turn, then after a few meters a sharp left turn onto another tarmac road that 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 I could see traffic on the A690. It was a lot quieter today than on my last walk here.

Walking down the road I caught a glimpse of the River Wear just before the T junction where I would turn right onto Frankland Lane. This is where you get your first sight of the River since crossing it at Finchale Priory. 

The road then continues between fields and passes a water treatment works before turning sharp right onto a wider road. 

Walking Frankland Lane as it follows the river into Durham City, passing Crook Hall on its way. I continued by the Radisson Blu Hotel on my right and stopped briefly at the Pennyferry footbridge over the River on my left. This may be where we cross the River on my walk with my friends but for today I continued on the west side of the River.

Walking under Milburngate Bridge I continued under the Framwelgate Bridge. It had started to rain again. 

Walking passed the boat house I climbed up to Prebends Bridge where I crossed the River.  

After crossing the bridge I turned right to drop back down to the River. The path passes the Count's House as the river starts to turn north east. 

Walking under Kingsgate Bridge I saw a sign showing the footpath was closed.

I retraced my steps again a few meters and climbed the steep steps up to the Bridge.

At the top I turned right and crossed the Bridge.

Out onto New Elvet, I had a wander about again, eventually walking down hill and reaching Elvet Bridge, where I turned left.

Crossing Elvet Bridge, I took the steps down on the right and continued walking along the riverside.

This is where the river then turns east and the footpath follows. I continued passed Baths Bridge.

Again I had a little wander before working my way up towards Leazes Road. Where I took the footbridge onto Gilesgate, with its brilliant view of the Cathedral.

It had been good to get out into the fresh air. I hope the weather is better than today when I walk here with my friends in a few weeks time. Can't wait looking, forward to it already.

With all my wanderings off the route I had covered 17.5km with a 220m 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.

If you want to see the walk I did with my friends follow the link Houghton Gate to Gilesgate.