Durham City Centre to Finchale Priory - Durham Round Trail

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This 1rst section of the Durham Round Trail, around Durham area, is easy to access allowing interesting heritage discoveries. Starting at the Cathedral, the trail follows the River Wear around the peninsula before leaving the city climbing to Brasside and finishing at Finchale Priory.

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

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 43 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 80 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 71 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 24 m
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Description of the walk

(S) Standing on Palace Green with the Cathedral in front of you then take the narrow cobbled street to your left, Dun Cow Lane.
At the bottom of Dun Cow Lane, turn right past the Heritage Centre and then turn left into Bow Lane.

(1) Walk down Bow Lane and down the steps to the right all the way to the river bank, (do not cross Kingsgate bridge). Alternative route avoiding the steps: do not turn left into Bow Lane but continue to walk along South Bailey and pass through the Watergate, down a steep slope to Prebends Bridge.

(2) At the bottom of the steps, turn right and follow the footpath around the river bank until you reach Prebends Bridge, cross the bridge and then turn right at the end of it.

(3) Follow the river bank looking to your right for the iconic view of the Fulling Mill with the Cathedral and Castle above it.

(4) Walk under both the next stone bridge (Milburngate Bridge) and the road bridge (Framwellgate Bridge).
Continue walking along the riverbank, you will pass the Radisson Hotel on your left and the Pennyferry footbridge on your right, you will now be on Frankland Lane.

(5) Continue along Frankland Lane, keeping to the right. You will pass Crook Hall on the left (no longer open to the public, but you may catch a view of it from the Crook Hall car park).
You will then pass some offices on your left and then a house on either side of the road. bear left here staying on Frankland Lane following the sign for Newton Hall (1.5 miles).

(6) Frankland Lane will split into two, you can take either path as these rejoin at Frankland farm.

(7) Continue walking straight ahead until you reach a fork in the road then keep right. Continue walking along Frankland Lane through the trees, you will eventually reach a small car park.

(8) To your right is Brasside Pond. Carry on following Frankland Lane in a north-westerly direction, this will lead you through Low Newton Remand Centre on your left and Frankland Prison on your right.
When you reach the road (Finchale Avenue), turn right and then turn left into the road for Finchale Priory.
Continue down this access road until you reach the priory. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 67 m - Palace Green
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 56 m - Kings Gate Bridge Steps
  3. 2 : km 0.9 - alt. 45 m - Prebends Bridge
  4. 3 : km 1.19 - alt. 54 m - Viewpoint for Fulling Mill and Cathedral
  5. 4 : km 1.64 - alt. 36 m - Millburngate Bridge/River Walk
  6. 5 : km 2.51 - alt. 31 m - Crook Hall
  7. 6 : km 3.22 - alt. 30 m - First Fork in Frankland Lane
  8. 7 : km 4.02 - alt. 47 m - Second Fork in Frankland Lane
  9. 8 : km 5.12 - alt. 63 m - Brasside Pond Car Park
  10. E : km 7.7 - alt. 24 m - Finchale Priory

Practical information

  • Transport: Park in one of the city centre car parks. After visiting Finchale Priory, retrace your steps along the access road to Frankland Prison, you will see the bus stop in front of you, the Arriva 62 service will take you back into Durham City (North Road). Walk down North Road and over Millburngate Bridge following Silver Street to the Market Place and car parks.
  • Facilities: There are no facilities between Riverwalk by Millburngate Bridge and Finchale Priory. There is a cafe and toilets here. There are lots of cafes and public toilets around the Market Place and Millenium Square in Durham City.
  • Accessibility: The suggested route has many steps, following South Bailey through the Watergate to Prebends Bridge will avoid these steps.

In the nearby area

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