This section of the England Coast Path begins at the popular holiday park at Crimdon and follows a more urban route to the historic Hartlepool Headland finishing at the old town walls.
Calculated time: 2h15[?] 
Distance : 7.64km
Vertical gain : 13m
Vertical drop : 40m
Highest point : 31m
Lowest point : 1m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Location : Monk Hesleden
Starting point : N 54.72711° / W 1.252144° 
Ending point : N 54.695061° / W 1.185111° (D) From Crimdon car park follow the tarmac footpath south.
(1) Then cross a footbridge. Bear left and skirt round the escarpment until you reach the steps down.
(2) Go down the steps and back up onto the opposite dunes. Continue to walk south skirting Hartlepool Golf course on your right and the Hart Warren Dunes Nature Reserve on your left. Cross the footbridge and continue walking past the golf course.
You will pass two pipelines on the beach and you will see Steetley Pier. Walk around the new housing development next to the Pier.
(3) Check carefully here as the development work was going on at the time of writing and the route may have altered slightly: it should run straight up from the second pipeline then slightly left to what is now Butterstone Avenue.
(4) Go straight and through the gates at the corner of Spion Kop cemetery and follow the path around the cemetery then bearing left around the derelict land. Again check to see if this is being redeveloped, Stay on Old Cemetery Road footpath if it is not possible to walk here.
(5) When you reach the houses you will see a promenade, walk onto this or onto Marine Drive. Continue along the promenade into Sea View Terrace passing Fairy Cove Gun.
(6) Still following the promenade you will reach the Heugh Battery and the Heugh Lighthouse : here the promenade turns to the south.
Continue following the promenade passing the Headland War Memorial, Heugh Breakwater and Headland Paddling Pool.
(7) As the promenade begins to turn north you will see Pilot pier on your left. Go up the steps at the pier and cross the road to see the statue of Andy Capp next to The Pot House.
Continue walking along Croft Terrace to the old Town Wall finishing your walk in front of the colorful old buildings. A little further along the Town Wall are some benches to take a well-earned rest. (A)
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 31m - Crimdon Car Park
1 : km 0.59 - alt. 8m - Footbridge
2 : km 0.94 - alt. 11m - Left turn to Dunes
3 : km 2.97 - alt. 8m - Pipe Line (2nd)
4 : km 3.87 - alt. 17m - Corner of Cemetery
5 : km 4.93 - alt. 6m - Start of Houses
6 : km 6.8 - alt. 2m - Heugh Battery
7 : km 7.42 - alt. 4m - Andy Capp Statue
A : km 7.64 - alt. 5m - Hartlepool Headland Town Walls
To get back to the start retrace your steps along the Town walls to Northgate, turn left onto Northgate passing the public toilets at Croft Park. The Town Square bus stop is on the corner. There is also a car park next to St Hilda's church on the other side of Croft Gardens.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
3.95km
+24m
-25m
1h10
Easy
Starting point in Monk Hesleden - Durham This circular walk starts out with a cliff top walk to Limekiln Gill, then follows the main road back to Crimdon Dene passing under the spectacular viaduct and following Crimdon Beck back towards the dunes providing views towards Hartlepool Headland and Steetley Pier.
5.05km
+35m
-39m
1h30
Easy
Starting point in Monk Hesleden - Durham This circular walk encompasses Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve and Cross Gill and provides opportunties to explore Blackhall Rocks beach with its caves. The cliffe top walk allows spectacular views of the Durham Coast.
4.37km
+62m
-63m
1h25
Easy
Starting point in Horden - Durham This circular walk takes in a varied stretch of the Durham coastline and provides views of Denemouth viaduct and access to 2 nature reserves along a stretch of the Durham Coastal Path.
4.51km
+62m
-56m
1h30
Easy
Starting point in Horden - Durham This out and back route takes in 3 of the lesser known gills (narrow valleys) along the Durham Coast National Nature Reserve following a short stretch of the England Coast Path/Durham Heritage Coast Path providing stunning views of the coast.
6.88km
+68m
-74m
2h10
Easy
Starting point in Horden - Durham This section of the England Coast Path continues down the rural areas of County Durham ending at Crimdon passing through Castle Eden Dene and Crimdon Dene finishing at a popular holiday park. There are nature reserves and rock formations to explore along with long sandy beaches and sand dunes. This section has some steep inclines and steps and is therefore not accessible.
4.83km
+11m
-11m
1h25
Easy
Starting point in Headland - Hartlepool This walk follows the promenade around the historic Hartlepool Headland including St Hilda's Church and the Heugh Gun Battery. Perfect for a stroll on a sunny day. Look out for information boards with the infamous Hartlepool Monkey.
8.12km
+5m
-10m
2h20
Easy
Starting point in Headland - Hartlepool This section of the England Coast Path is a varied section, starting on the historic headland, it then follows main roads through modern developments to the marina and on to the seafront at Seaton Carew. The route passes some of the highlights of Hartlepool which are well worth slight diversions.
14.2km
+160m
-152m
4h30
Easy
Starting point in Castle Eden - Durham The full tour of Castle Eden Dene taking in all the best parts with varied and interesting scenery:- Old buildings, open country, ancient woodland, the North East coastline, a magnesium limestone dene with its craggy outcrops, a meandering river and steep-sided gorge. There is a multitude of flora and fauna; if you are quiet you may see squirrels and/or deer. Starts and finished near the Castle Eden Inn which is well known for its good beer and good food.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
