Greta Bridge to Winston - Durham Round Trail

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This walk follows the River Greta and River Tees, taking in some beautiful countryside, ancient bridges and river view.

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

Details

n°31838351
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 48 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 59 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 153 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 87 m
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Description of the walk

Start: Greta Bridge. Grid ref. NZ 086 131

(S) From Greta Bridge walk South-East looking for a stile in the wall to your left after about 50m. Cross the field heading North with the River Greta on your left. Follow the path under the A66, then bear right (North-East) across the field following the field boundary on your left to the wooded area ahead.

Alternative Route: To visit Rokeby Park, walk North-East from Greta Bridge past the Morritt Hotel to the end of the lane, go up the steps and walk along the footpath at the end of the A66. Cross at the junction. Be extremely careful as there is no footpath. Continue North until you reach Rokeby Park. After your visit, turn right onto Mortham Lane until you reach (3).

(1) Follow the path along the edge of the woodland staying on a North-East bearing follow the field boundary northwards until you reach a small building.

(2) At the small building turn left following the track westwards across the field until you reach the woodland again. Turn North and follow the edge of the woodland passing between a pond and tennis court on your right and building on your left. At the end of the building turn left along the road and at the next building (Mortham Tower), turn right onto Mortham Lane.

(3) After 100m turn right and follow the field track with the field boundary on your right. The River Tees will be on your left across the field. On reaching the wooded area, follow the track around the edge of the trees (North) and then look for the track to your right (East) towards the ruined buildings at the junction of the fields.

(4) Continue east for another 400m and then bear northeast until you reach the road. Cross the stile and turn left to cross Whorlton Bridge to reach the Toll Booth.

NB: The steps in front of you will take you to Whorlton Village if you wish to look around.

(5) Turn right following the road until you reach the bend, take the path to your right (Teesdale Way) at the end of the barrier. Follow the path along the banks of the River Tees which will be on your right. Go down the steps and cross Whorlton Beck. After a further 350m, the path will turn north west.

(6) Follow the path up through the trees and on reaching the field, turn right and follow the treeline eastwards.

(7) On reaching Graft's farm, continue straight ahead eastwards keeping the treeline on your right. The path turns northeast and splits, keep to your right following the treeline for 1.1 Km.

(8) At the end of the treeline, follow the field boundary north east until you reach a wider track. Follow this northwards with the treeline on your right.

(9) At the corner of the woodland, turn right (North-East) off the track and continue to follow the treeline on your right.

(10) At the Highcliffe Waters Holiday Lodges, turn left (North) and follow the road past the lodges. Follow the road to the right and then look for a path on your right. Keep the treeline on your right and then follow the path into the woods in a northeasterly direction. When you emerge from trees the path will continue along the treeline to your right.

(11) As you emerge onto the road, you may want to cross Winston Bridge to see the (small) replica spitfire to commemorate the one flown under the bridge in 1988. After cross back over the bridge and continue North-West, following the road to the village of Winston.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 130 m - Greta Bridge
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 139 m - Woodland
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 145 m - Small Building
  4. 3 : km 1.54 - alt. 137 m - Mortham Tower
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 130 m - Ruined Buildings
  6. 5 : km 3.88 - alt. 112 m - Toll House
  7. 6 : km 4.42 - alt. 108 m - Change in direction of the footpath.
  8. 7 : km 5.38 - alt. 121 m - Graft's Farm
  9. 8 : km 6.61 - alt. 120 m - End of the treeline
  10. 9 : km 7.12 - alt. 123 m - Path Junction
  11. 10 : km 7.84 - alt. 95 m - Highcliffe Waters Holiday Lodges
  12. 11 : km 8.86 - alt. 87 m - Winston Bridge/B6274
  13. E : km 9.36 - alt. 126 m - Winston Village

Notes

Start: Greta Bridge. Grid ref. NZ 086 131

Transport: There are no buses which link the start and end of this walk, however buses run from Barnard Castle to Greta Bridge (Hodgsons Service) and from Barnard Castle to Winston (Arriva X75/X76). There is ample public parking in Barnard Castle.

Facilities: There are no facilities along the route of this walk. The Morritt Hotel is located at the start of the walk. There is a bar and restaurant here.

Terrain/Accessibility: This walk is not accessible, there are many stiles and some steps. Sections of the walk are across fields so suitable footwear is required as it can be muddy.

Accommodation: There are a number of hotels and gueshouses in the area, if based in Barnard Castle, then try the Old Well Inn or Three Horseshoes Hotel. The Morritt Hotel at the beginning of the walk has accommodation. There are a number of holiday parks around Winston.

Worth a visit

  • Rokeby Park - Paladian House and Gardens, just north of Greta Bridge (S)
  • Mortham Tower, a grade I listed building. Now a private residences, you can admire it from the outside (3)
  • Whorlton Suspension Bridge, look to your right as you cross the bridge, there was once a popular lido in the river here (now sadly closed) (5).
  • Whorlton Bridge Toll House (5).

Other walks in the area

Walking River Greta Circular

Visorando member
↔11.48 km ↗+156 m ↘-157 m ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Brignall (County Durham)
A picturesque walk along the river Greta, abounds with history and nature.

Walking Bowes Museum to Egglestone Abbey: Beside the River Tees

Visorando member
Bowes Museum to Egglestone Abbey: Beside the River Tees
↔5.99 km ↗+47 m ↘-54 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Barnard Castle (County Durham)
A short and enjoyable walk from Bowes Museum to Egglestone Abbey, following the River Tees. At the time of writing (July 21) Bowes Museum is still operating a time ticket entry. If you time your visit correctly you can combine a visit to the museum followed by the walk or vice versa. Please note the gates to the museum close at 5:00. If you think you will arrive back later then park your car outside the museum grounds.

Walking Teesdale Way Circular from Barnard Castle

Visorando member
Teesdale Way Circular from Barnard Castle
↔13.66 km ↗+144 m ↘-147 m ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Barnard Castle (County Durham)
A pleasant circular walk starting and finishing at Barnard Castle. It follows the Teesdale Way on the south side of the River Tees and crosses the river via a footbridge north of Cotherstone village. It then heads back on the opposite side of the river. The walking is mostly flat and passes through farm land and riverside woodland.

Walking Rutherford Bridge to Greta Bridge - Durham Round Trail

Visorando member
↔7.05 km ↗+40 m ↘-126 m ◔2h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Scargill (County Durham)
The 21st section of the route continues to follow the River Greta from Rutherford Bridge through picturesque countryside to the pretty village of Greta Bridge.

Walking Winston to Piercebridge - Durham Round Trail

Visorando member
↔8.72 km ↗+14 m ↘-40 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Winston (County Durham)
The 23rd section follows the banks of the River Tees from Winston through the pretty village of Gainford which is well worth a stop, then continues to the ancient settlement of Piercebridge with its Roman fort and bridge.

Walking Bowes to Rutherford Bridge - Durham Round Trail

Visorando member
↔5.63 km ↗+51 m ↘-94 m ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Bowes (County Durham)
The 20th section of the trail continues from the village of Bowes through the Greta Valley, following the River Greta to Rutherford Bridge and the waterfalls.

Walking Gainford to Ingleton - The Way of Life

Visorando member
↔5.57 km ↗+68 m ↘-26 m ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Gainford (County Durham)
The start of this walk begins at the historic St Mary's Church on the banks of the River Tees in Gainford and passes through farmland and pretty villages finishing in Ingleton.

Walking The Way of Life - Gainford to Durham

Visorando member
↔48.25 km ↗+449 m ↘-469 m ◔3 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Gainford (County Durham)
The Way of Life is one of the Northern Saints' Trails and takes in the religious centre of Bishop Auckland with its castle and art galleries. The trail passes through many County Durham villages from the banks of the River Tees to the banks of the River Wear. Evidence of County Durham's religious and industrial past can be seen throughout the walk including the Etherley Incline, an early railway, Medieval Durham, Escomb Saxon Church and Binchester Roman Fort.

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