Start : Honest Lawyer (DH1 3SP) Grid ref. NZ 266 380
(S/E) From the Honest Lawyer, walk North along the A167 towards Durham City. After crossing the River Browney, take the footpath on your right through the kissing gate in an Eastwards direction, this will cross a grassed area then follow the North bank of the River Browney. Keep right at all path intersections following the path around to the left (North) where the River Browney and River Wear meet.
Continue past the buildings of the Croxdale Woodland Trust on the left, after which the path swings North-West and then South-West for a short distance until it intersects with a number of paths.
(1) Take the first path to the right, heading North again along the banks of the River Wear. Stay on this heading until you reach a junction.
(2) At the junction look ahead, you should see a sculpture called the Wicker Man, if you wish to see this more closely walk up the slope, returning to the path afterwards. Continue following the path in a North-Easterly direction. When you reach the Stone Spiral sculpture bear North-East again and enter Gary's Wood by the Noticeboard.
(3) Cross the bridge and walk through the woods on the same Northeasterly direction until you emerge onto farmland, turn left (North) and follow the edge of the field.
(4) When you reach the top of the field, look for the path through the trees. Continue on the Northeasterly direction ignoring the tarmac lane (Hollingside Lane on your left). Descend the steps, there are a number along this route. At the end of the path is a stile.
(5) When you reach the pond, turn left (North) along the track, this turns into a path running along the hedgeline into a wooded area. Turn right (East) and follow the path through High Wood until you see a path (mostly steps) on the left which ascends a steep hill. At the top of the hill look for the wide track left hading back down hill still in a Northerly direction. This will join the road to Upper Mount Joy through the university campus. Continue to the bottom of the hill.
Alternative Route: Instead of climbing the steps, continue around the base of the hill behind the main buildings of Houghall College until you reach the A177 road. Turn left and follow the footpath to the roundabout, turn left at the roundabout and walk a short distance to the entrance to the university. This is much less of a climb.
Cross Stockton Road (A177) and take the path by the stone pillar, School Lane, which exits onto Church Street.
(6) Cross Church Street and enter the church yard passing St Oswald's church, turn left (South-West) onto the path closest to the River Wear and follow this path around the River Bank on your right until you reach Prebends Bridge.
(7) Turn right and cross the bridge, walk up the steep path and through the Water Gate in the city walls onto South Bailey. Walk past the university buildings and stone archway (the entrance to The College and the rear of the Cathedral). Take the next left onto Dun Cow Lane and onto Palace Green. The main front entrance to the Cathedral will be on your left (E).
