Bishop Auckland to Binchester, The Way of Life

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.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: The Way of Life - Gainford to Durham

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.58 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 110 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 69 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 137 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 66 m

Description

Start : Auckland Tower (vistor centre) (DL14 7NJ) junction Castle Chare and Market Place.

(S) From Auckland Tower, walk through the entrance to Auckland Castle passing the Walled Garden to your right. At the end of the lawn follow the track around to your left. This is the main carriageway through the estate.

(1) At the track junction keep right following signs for the deer house, after the deer house the path will bend North-Westwards and follows the River Gaunless. Cross over the wide track again keeping the River Gaunless to your right.

(2) When you pass under the bridge as you reach the River Wear, turn left and walk over the bridge you have just walked under. Follow the road North and then West keeping the River Wear to your left.

(3) After the gravel parking area to your left look for the gate and signpost for Binchester Roman Fort which goes straight ahead at the bend in the road. Walk up the drive about 400m to the fort. After visiting the fort retrace your steps to the small parking area by the River Wear. Look across the river for another view of the Newton Cap Viaduct.

Note: Binchester Roman Fort is open 1st April to 31st October, ouside of these times continue straight (4).

(4) Take the path opposite the parking area (North) and follow the path to a kissing gate, go through the gate and continue following the path North-West across the fields. The path will bend around to the North-East at a stile (cross the stile) and then the North-West again. Cross a further stile and then follow the path Northwards. Cross another stile and then cross Bell Burn.

(5) At the next stile turn sharply right and follow the path in a South-Easterly direction through the woods with Bell Burn on your right. After some time the burn will veer away from the path then back again so you will be walking right beside the burn.

(6) After approximately 1km cross Bell Burn and turn left following the path back across the burn which should now be on your right again. Continue Eastwards, crossing the burn one more time before reaching a track junction (about 600m), turn left onto the Auckland Way (North).

(7) If you are ending your walk here then when you reach the houses at Binchester, turn right and walk along the back of Granville Terrace to the main road (Church Street) and continue to the A688 to the bus stop at Binchester Service Station (E), otherwise continue straight ahead on the Auckland Way towards Byers Green.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 96 m - Auckland Tower (Visitor Centre)
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 83 m - Track Junction
  3. 2 : km 0.91 - alt. 69 m - Bridge/River Wear
  4. 3 : km 2.19 - alt. 79 m - Road Junction/Sign for Binchester Roman Fort
  5. 4 : km 2.39 - alt. 69 m - Parking Area by the River Wear
  6. 5 : km 3.5 - alt. 74 m - Bell Burn
  7. 6 : km 4.46 - alt. 104 m - Bell Burn
  8. 7 : km 5.58 - alt. 127 m - Granville Terrace, Binchester
  9. E : km 6.57 - alt. 137 m - Binchester Service Station

Practical information

Start : Auckland Tower (vistor centre) (DL14 7NJ) junction Castle Chare and Market Place.

Transport: There are many car parks in Bishop Auckland town centre and the start of the walk is close to the bus station and train station. Take bus 6, X21 or 104 back to Bishop Auckland. You can also take the 104 from Church Street in Binchester, however this is a very limited service.

Facilities: There are public toilets in the bus station and numerous cafes, bars and shops in Bishop Auckland itself. When open Binchester Roman Fort has toilets and some refreshments.

Accessibility: There are stiles on this walk and some of the terrain can be muddy after rain.

Accommodation: The Saxon Inn is located in Escomb and there is a Premier Inn on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. There are a number of holiday rentals in the local environs too.

In the nearby area

  • Bishop Auckland Castle was once the home of the Prince Bishops of Durham. There are many attractions which are managed by the Auckland Project starting with a visit to Auckland Tower before entering the grounds of Auckland Castle. Also worth visiting is the castle itself as well as the newly restored walled gardens. If you wish to explore the park further see the park map.
  • Art Galleries - there are a number managed by the Auckland Project, see link above. These cover religion, Spanish Art and Mining Art.
  • The Deer House is managed by English Heritage and is located in the grounds of the castle.
  • Kynren is a spectacular outdoor show at 11arches behind the castle. This show with its huge cast tells the story of the north east and is scheduled every weekend during the summer.
  • Binchester Roman Fort (open summer only from 1 April to 31 October).

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