Great North Forest Warden Law to Herrington Country Park

This largely rural section covers a lot of farm land with a number of hills enabling views of the surrounding area and finishes in Herrington Country Park, created when the spoil heap from the pit was cleared.

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

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.18 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 92 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 164 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 174 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 56 m

Description de la randonnée

(S) From the bus stop, walk in a northerly direction along Salter's Lane.

(1) Continue walking past the entrance to the Karting Centre and take the path to your left (west) at the end of the trees. Follow this path around the karting tracks.

(2) At the end of the karting tracks you will come to a junction of paths, keep walking straight ahead and through Warden Law North Farm. Refer to the ordance survey maps as these paths are not marked on the OpenStreet Maps. You should be heading downhill along a field boundary in a westerly direction, this will bend to the right slightly.

Alternative route: If you are not confident about navigating across open fields with poorly defined paths, turn right here and take the clearly defined footpath to the road, turn right and walk along the road watching for traffic as there is no footpath until you reach Stony Gate Junction (5).

(3) You will need to look for the path to your right along another field boundary, when you find it, turn right and walk uphill (north). You will pass through a hedgerow, and then turn right (west) to meet a more well definded track.

(4) When you reach the Field House Sand Hole Workings track turn right and head north towards High Haining Farm. When you reach the farm, bear left around the buildings and pick up the track leading to Middle Haining Farm, the path goes to the right of this farm and will emerge onto the road, turn right and walk to Stony Gate junction.

(5) Cross the A690 carefully into High Lane.

(6) Cross the stile to your right and follow the path along the field boundary at the bottom bear left to walk around the trees. The path you are on will continue straight ahead and then enter the trees skirting around disused quarries and the bottom of Herrington Hill to emerge on the B1286 (St Aidan's Terrace). Cross the road.

(7) Turn right and then left by the bus shelter. Go straight ahead over the mini roundabout and then bear left into McLaren Way. Continue down this lane towards Office Row. When you reach the entrance to the Country Park, turn right and follow the path around the right-hand side of Office Row.

(8) When you reach the Sun Seat, turn left and walk around the Model Boating Lake turning left at the Rain Seat walking around the end of the lake passing the Lion Seat and Amphitheatre on your left. Continue on this path towards the visitor centre and car park, the end of the walk (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 148 m - Gillas Lane/Salters Lane Bus Stop
  2. 1 : km 0.57 - alt. 163 m - Karting Centre
  3. 2 : km 1.08 - alt. 169 m - Track Junction
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 115 m - Track Junction/Field Boundary
  5. 4 : km 2.41 - alt. 132 m - Field House Sand Hole Workings
  6. 5 : km 3.55 - alt. 110 m - Stony Gate Junction
  7. 6 : km 4.2 - alt. 116 m - Stile
  8. 7 : km 6.03 - alt. 81 m - Bus Shelter
  9. 8 : km 6.97 - alt. 75 m - Sun Seat
  10. E : km 8.18 - alt. 78 m - Herrington Country Park Car Park

Practical information

Transport: Park at Herrington Country Park take the 78 Country Ranger to Woodstone Village, change to the 71 which will take you to Gillas Lane/Salter's Lane where the last section finished.

Facilities: There is a cafe and toilets at Herrington Country Park, but nothing on the route.

Accessibility: The marjority of the walk is across fields with hills which can be muddy. The paths are not well defined. Herrington County Park can be enjoyed on its own.

Maps: Many of the paths on this route do not appear on the OpenStreet Map, but are on the Ordnance Survey Maps and can be seen on the Public Rights of Way Map provided by Durham County Council.

In the nearby area

  • Herrington Country Park has some trails of its own if you wish to extend your walk.
  • Penshaw Monument, cross the road and climb Penshaw Hill.

Other walks in the area

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