Beamish to Annfield Plain - Durham Round Trail

This 4th section of the Durham Round Trail walk continues to follow the C2C cyle route though open countryside and then through towns and villages ending at Annfield Plain. Interestingly, the coop buildings from Annfield Plain were moved to Beamish Museum which is well worth a visit.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Durham Round Trail

Technical sheet

n°31829720
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.50 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 104 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 1 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 252 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 148 m
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Description

Start : Eden Place Picnic Area (DH9 0RE) Grid ref. NZ 220 536

(S/E) From Eden Place Picnic Area, leave the car park and cross the road, turning right for a short distance to rejoin the C2C cycle route. Check out the Beamish Cow sculpture before turning right again under the road (West).

(1) The initial section of the route is through countryside until you reach the villages of Kip Hill and Shield Row. The route pass over a bridge above Pelaw Avenue after 2 Km or so, and then another bridge over the A6076.

(2) The route continues Westwards passing a new housing development (Orchard Grove) on your right.

(3) The route bend to the South-West where there are access points to the cycle route from nearby streets. The route then pass over Sunny Terrace heading South-Wast and enter a woodland area.

(4) The route pass an Offroad Centre on the right and then cross a bridge over Kyo Lane.

(5) The route passes Kyo Bogs Local Nature Reserve which you can access from the cycle path. After your exploration, return to the cycle path and continue heading South-West.

(6) When you reach the fork in the route, bear left (South) towards the allotment gardens. The route then joins a road and passes Anfield Plain Methodist Church on your left and Anfield Plain Junior School on your right.

(7) On reaching Station Road, cross the road and turn left then right picking up the cycle path running alongside the supermarket.

(8) Continue to follow the cycle path past the Greencroft Nature Reserve on your right until you reach the A693 which completes this section (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 148 m - Eden Place Picnic Area
  2. 1 : km 2.1 - alt. 165 m - Bridge over Pelaw Avenue
  3. 2 : km 2.57 - alt. 170 m - Orchard Grove
  4. 3 : km 2.95 - alt. 172 m - Cycle Path Access Points
  5. 4 : km 4.94 - alt. 213 m - Kyo Lane
  6. 5 : km 5.49 - alt. 227 m - Kyo Bogs Nature Reserve
  7. 6 : km 5.87 - alt. 235 m - Fork in Path
  8. 7 : km 6.3 - alt. 237 m - Station Road, Anfield Plain
  9. 8 : km 6.8 - alt. 240 m - Greencroft Nature Reserve
  10. E : km 7.5 - alt. 251 m - A693

Practical information

Start : Eden Place Picnic Area (DH9 0RE) Grid ref. NZ 220 536

Transport: There is parking at Eden Place Picnic Area or you may wish to park in Chester-le-Street. Buses from Chester-le-Street will stop at the Shepherd and Shepherdess or entrance to Beamish Museum.
To return to the start point, turn right from the finish stage and then right again onto Loud View Terrace where you will find the bus stop. Take bus Country Ranger 78 to Stanley and then change to Country Ranger 8 which continues to Chester-le-Street. Stay on the 78 to return directly to Chester-le-Street.

Facilities: You will find the Shepherd and Shepherdess as the start of the walk. There is a supermarket at Anfield Plain, otherwise there are no other facilities on the route.

Accessibility: The entire route is on cycle paths so is easy to walk on but the entire route is uphill. If only walking this section then start at Annfield Plain and walk to Beamish.

Accommodation: There is accommodation in Chester-le-Street, but also Beamish Hall, the Beamish Mary at No Place and even a Holiday Park at Beamish.

In the nearby area

Beamish Museum is a must, this large living museum can easily take a day to see so perhaps allow some time away from the walk to do this. There is plenty of walking to be done as the site is spread out.

Reviews and comments

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