Great North Forest Lumley Castle to Rainton Meadows

Starting at the magnificent Lumley Castle, this walk winds its way through woodlands along the Lumley Park Burn before heading through Fenchouses and along bridlepaths through open fields before reaching Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Great North Forest Path

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.41 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 25 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 10 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 60 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 26 m

Description de la randonnée

(S) From the rear of Lumley Castle take the path leading south, then take the path which doubles back on itself over a bridge. Once across the bridge turn right, you should have Lumley Park Burn on your right, walk through the woodland. You will be on the Way of Learning Trail/Weardale Way so look out for the markers for these trails.

(1) The track turns north east, ignore the path to the right for the Weardale Way or Way of Learning, you will rejoin this further along. Continue past the holiday cottages following the path left and right until it passes underneath the A1(M).

(2) At the end of the track turn right (south) and look for a footpath to your right through the trees. This will exit at the base of the bridge carrying the A1(M). Cross the bridge over Lumley Park Burn and then take the path to your left, you will now be back on the Way of Learning route and following an easterly direction. Follow this path alongside the Burn until it emerges at the Floater's Mill. Go through the gate.

(3) At the Floaters Mill, turn right and walk along the road (Front Street) into Fencehouses.

(4) Turn right at Morton Grange Terrace onto the bridlepath. Just beyond this junction is the War Memorial if you wish to see that before taking the bridlepath.

(5) When you reach Morton House keep left and follow the bridlepath around the back of the property. At the far side you will see a driveway to your right, keep on the southerly bridlepath which will emerge onto Black Boy Road by the Chiltern County Club (closed at the time of writing). Turn left onto Black Boy Road.

(6) Cross the road and follow the bridlepath to your right (southeat). This is signposted with a faded wooden sign which says Rainton Meadows, Rainton Bridge and West Rainton. You will pass under a bridge but the path will remain heading in a southeasterly direction.

(7) On reaching the path junction, turn left and go through the kissing gate into Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, you will be following the Heron Route through the reserve. Pass the pond on your right and cross the footbridge. Turn left passing two further ponds on your left. Follow the path around to your right to the car park and visitor centre (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 35 m - Lumley Castle
  2. 1 : km 1.2 - alt. 45 m - Path Junction
  3. 2 : km 1.81 - alt. 49 m - Forge Lane
  4. 3 : km 2.99 - alt. 40 m - Floater's Mill
  5. 4 : km 3.46 - alt. 45 m - Morton Grange Terrace
  6. 5 : km 4.29 - alt. 56 m - Morton House and Cottages
  7. 6 : km 5.2 - alt. 58 m - Signpost for Rainton Meadows
  8. 7 : km 6.63 - alt. 55 m - Entrance to Rainton Meadows
  9. E : km 7.41 - alt. 50 m - Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre

Practical information

Transport: There is parking at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street and at Rainton Meadows (time restrictions apply). To return to the start, walk into Fencehouses, passing Black Boy Way to your left. Take the 71 bus from Front Street (about a mile) back to Riverside Park.

Facilities: There is a cafe and toilets at Riverside Park and a restaurant at Lumley Castle. You will pass Floater's Mill on the route which is good for food. At the end of the walk there is a cafe and toilets at Rainton Meadows.

Accessibility: There are some steep woodland sections on dirt paths which can be quite muddy after the rain. An accessible route, albeit with steep sections, would be to turn left out of Riverside Park and follow the road to Fencehouses. This will join the original route just north of the Floater's Mill. The rest of the route is on bridlepaths and hard footpaths through the nature reserve.

Accommodation: Lumley Castle has rooms and the main bulk of the Washington Hotels on Crowther Road include the Holiday Inn, Campanile and Premier Inn. The Highfield in East Rainton near Rainton Meadows is another optioin.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.