Bishop Auckland to Binchester, The Way of Life
Departure from Bishop Auckland (County Durham)
This section of The Way of Life is relatively short to enable you to fully explore Bishop Auckland Castle Park and Binchester Roman Fort, a short diversion from the path.
Bishop Auckland Castle and Deer House
Departure from Bishop Auckland (County Durham)
A gentle walk through Auckland Park taking in the River Wear, River Gaunless, Walled Garden and Deer House.
Rushyford to Croxdale - Along the Great North Road
Departure from Chilton (County Durham)
The 4th section of the Along the Great North Road walk joins two former coaching inns and roughly follows the modern day A167 through countryside, diverting into the former mining communities of Ferryhill and Chilton. Along the way is evidence of the old coaching route if you look out for it.
Binchester to Whitworth, The Way of Life
Departure from County Durham
This shorter section allows follows the Auckland Way for a time before crossing farmland to Whitworth Hall and Deer Park.
Escomb to Bishop Auckland, The Way of Life
Departure from County Durham
This short walk from Escomb to Bishop Auckland follows the River Wear. It affords a great view of the Newton Cap Viaduct and allows plenty of time to explore Bishop Auckland.
West Auckland to Escomb, The Way of Life
Departure from West Auckland (County Durham)
The final section of the Gainford to Escomb section of The Way of Life continues across farmland and through small villages finishing at the ancient church in Escomb. A section of this walk follows the Etherley Incline, the route of the first passenger railway in the world. The last part of the walk shares a route with the Weardale Way.
Whitworth to Sunderland Bridge, The Way of Life
Departure from Spennymoor (County Durham)
This section of the walk begins at Whitworth Hall Country Park with its deer, crosses farmland before passing through the pretty village of Tudhoe and then joins the Weardale Way for a short section before reaching the outskirts of Durham City.
Weardale Way - Willington to Sunderland Bridge
Departure from Greater Willington (County Durham)
This section of the Weardale Way follows the loops of the River Wear. It is a tranquil place with many vistas of the river along the way ending at Sunderland Bridge.
Coatham Mundeville to Rushyford - Along the Great North Road
Departure from Coatham Mundeville (Darlington)
This 3rd section of the Along the Great North Road passes a number of inns both new and old along the route and takes in the pretty Aycliffe Village. The rest of the route follows the A167 but the path is surrounded by trees for most of the route and is therefore shaded in summer months.
Croxdale to Durham Along the Great North Road
Departure from Spennymoor (County Durham)
This 5th section of the Along the Great North Road, from Croxdale, starts in open countryside, then crosses the old Sunderland Bridge which once carried the Great North Road across the River Wear. The route then passes the landmark Cock o' the North roundabout, then follows South Road past the modern university buildings down New Elvet into the heart of Durham City finishing in the historic Market Place.
Ingleton to West Auckland, The Way of Life
Departure from Ingleton (County Durham)
This section of the walk crosses farmland and follows country lanes starting in the village of Ingleton and finishing in West Auckland with its numerous interesting and historic buildings.
Weardale Way - Sunderland Bridge to Durham City Centre
Departure from Brandon and Byshottles (County Durham)
This walk is a little more challenging and includes some steep gradients but finishes with a more leisurely walk along the river banks in the city itself finishing at Brown's Boat House next to Elvet Bridge. Along the way the route passes several farms, Croxdale Hall with its Chapel and Shincliffe Hall. These are closed to the public but make good route points.
Sunderland Bridge to Durham Cathedral - The Way of Life
Departure from Brandon and Byshottles (County Durham)
This walk largely follows the River Browney and then the River Wear passing through managed woodland around the outskirts of Durham City before passing the university and St Oswald's Church before rejoining the banks of the River Wear finishing with a walk along the South Bailey to Durham Cathedral.
The Way of Life - Gainford to Durham
Departure from Gainford (County Durham)
The Way of Life is one of the Northern Saints' Trails and takes in the religious centre of Bishop Auckland with its castle and art galleries. The trail passes through many County Durham villages from the banks of the River Tees to the banks of the River Wear. Evidence of County Durham's religious and industrial past can be seen throughout the walk including the Etherley Incline, an early railway, Medieval Durham, Escomb Saxon Church and Binchester Roman Fort.
More walks in Eldon
Discover also walks in surrounding cities:
- Aldbrough
- Archdeacon Newton
- Barforth
- Barmpton
- Bearpark
- Belmont
- Bishop Auckland
- Bishop Middleham
- Bolam
- Bradbury and the Isle
- Brafferton
- Brancepeth
- Brandon and Byshottles
- Caldwell
- Cassop-cum-Quarrington
- Chilton
- City of Durham
- Cleasby
- Cliffe
- Coatham Mundeville
- Cockfield
- Cornforth
- Cornsay
- Coxhoe
- Croxdale and Hett
- Dene Valley
- Denton
- Eppleby
- Esh
- Etherley
- Evenwood and Barony
- Ferryhill
- Forcett
- Gainford
- Great Aycliffe
- Great Burdon
- Great Stainton
- Greater Willington
- Headlam
- Hedleyhope
- Heighington
- High Coniscliffe
- Hilton
- Houghton Le Side
- Hutton Magna
- Ingleton
- Kelloe
- Killerby
- Langton
- LCPs of Brancepeth and Brandon and Byshottles
- Little Stainton
- Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent
- Manfield
- Middleton St George
- Middridge
- Mordon
- Morton Palms
- Morton Tinmouth
- Ovington
- Piercebridge
- Pittington
- Sadberge
- Shadforth
- Sherburn Village
- Shildon
- Shincliffe
- Spennymoor
- Stanwick St. John
- Stapleton
- Summerhouse
- Wackerfield
- Walworth
- West Auckland
- West Layton
- Whessoe
- Windlestone
- Winston
- Witton-le-Wear