Healeyfield walks

This is the 7th section of the Durham Round Trail walk. County Durham is well-known for its towns including Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle as well as Durham City, however today's walk leaves behind the urban areas and heads out into the open countryside. This and the next few sections showcase the wilder side of County Durham. The section continues to follow the C2C cycle path/Waskerley Way and has a number of picnic spots along the way.

This section of the Way of Light from rural Castleside to the pretty village of Lanchester passes through some of the rolling hilly landscapes of County Durham. The route first passes over the impressive Hownsgill Viaduct then follows the Lanchester Valley Path through farmland.

This is the 6th section of the Durham Round Trail walk. Continuing to follow the C2C cycle path, the first half of the walk is through urban landscapes, passing through Consett and then into open countryside, following the Saints' Trail the Way of Light to Rowley Station Picnic Area. Rowley Station itself is now in Beamish Museum.

This 8th section of the Durham Round Trail walk continues on the Waskerley Way/C2C Cycle Route and gives views across the moorland towards Waskerley Reservoir.

This 5th and short section of the Durham Round Trail walk continues to follow the C2C cycle route through villages and countryside. It can easily be combined with other sections on the route.

The 5th section of the walk continues through villages in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty starting in Edmundbyers, passing through Muggleswick and finishing in Castleside on the edge of Consett. This section is about taking in the landscapes, open farmland and gentle woodland.

This 7th section of the Way of Light begins in the village of Lanchester and crosses farmland, passes nature reserves, the villages of Quebec and Esh Winning and finishes at the entrance to the impressive Ushaw College. This walk is across rolling green fields and passes many farms. It could also be called the walk of the many stiles, gates and cattle grids.

An easy ramble around Derwent Reservoir from Pow Hill Country Park to the Millstone Picnic area and back. Very easy walking, well signposted and with well maintained paths. Popular with day trippers, take a picnic.

The 9th section of the Durham Round Trail continues deep into the Pennines. This area was well known for lead mining and there is evidence of this along the trail. This part of the trail initially follows a ridge gradually uphill, giving amazing views across the Pennines. This showcases County Durham at its wildest. The final section of the walk drops steeply down to the pretty village of Rookhope.

A lovely circular walk starting from Wolsingham village. It passes through farmland on good tracks and paths up to Tunstall Reservoir. After walking around the reservoir the route returns at a higher level through pastures before descending back to the village. Interesting scenery, great views and mostly well marked with yellow arrows.

The 4th section of the Way of Light passes through the North Pennines Area of Outsanding Natural Beauty, crossing from Northumberland into County Durham. The walk starts in the pretty village of Blanchland, crosses wild moorland sharing the route with a section of the Lead Mining Trail and finishes in the equally pretty village of Edmundbyers.

This is a nice circular walk which seems shorter than it is. The walk starts in Stanhope and explores Ashes Quarry before heading up to Crawleyside Incline, where the limestone from the quarry was taken on its journey to the Consett Iron Works. The walk then cuts away to pass beside Millstone Quarry and to the top of Collier Law, before descending around the rim of Fatherley Plain to Fatherley Hill Currick. The route then heads back to Stanhope via Shittlehope Edge and Burn.

This is an interesting walk which starts in Stanhope and passes through the west end of the town to Stanhope Hall and then ascends the pleasant dene. After crossing the beck the path passes below old limestone quarries to the remans of the fluorspar plant before ascending to the Park Plantation and following the boundary wall of Stanhope Park, the return leg passes through pleasant farmland to the dene and back into Stanhope.

An interesting walk which allows you to explore and appreciate the industrial history of Weardale. You will pass beside old limestone quarries, the remains of a lead mine, lime kilns and climb up to the edges either side of the valley. An optional mid-way stop at the Durham Dales Visitor Centre is a good place of a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Mostly well signposted and following waymarked trails.

The final section of the Way of Light walk starts in the tranquil setting of Ushaw College, once a seminary, but now a visitor attraction. Before leaving, ensure you check out the chapels which include elements designed by Augustus Pugin. The walk will pass through some of the villages surrounding the city before ascending to Durham Cathedral.

This walk begins at Ushaw College and ends at Durham Cathedral and follows The Way of Light for most of the way. Exploration of Ushaw College and Durham City itself will complement this walk through fields, along cycle paths and through the city itself.

This walk begins at Causey Arch and ends at Beamish following woodland paths for the majority of the route with one small section across fields linking two historically important locations. Be sure to explore Causey Arch and Tanfield Railway before beginning the walk.

This final stretch of the walk starts at Beamish and follows cycle paths through countryside and villages into Chester-le-Street town centre alongside Chester Burn, finishing at St Mary and St Cuthbert;s Church one of the many churches on the pilgrim walking route.

This part of the walk starts at Beamish and follows the C2C cycle route back towards Birtley and Washington through open fields and the outskirts of villages. The walk is downhill for most of the route along hard cycle paths and there is accessible to most.

This 4th section of the Durham Round Trail walk continues to follow the C2C cyle route though open countryside and then through towns and villages ending at Annfield Plain. Interestingly, the coop buildings from Annfield Plain were moved to Beamish Museum which is well worth a visit.

Nice little circular walk on the edge of Slaley.

The 10th section of the Durham Round Trail links the pretty villages of Rookhope and Westgate. Leaving the coast to coast cycle route, the trail follows a section of the Weardale Way along the route of the Rookhope and Middlehope Railway as it winds its way through the Pennines to the banks of the River Wear.

This is the riverside walk in the Hamsterley Forest. The path is well marked (follow the blue signs) and very easy. It is pushchair friendly and perfect for little legs. It is dog friendly.  There are several others well marked walking trails and bicycle trails available in the forest. 

The 3rd section of the walk continues through Northumberland finishing on the border with County Durham. Start the walk by viewing the Dukesfield Arches, then continue to follow the Devil's Water to Slaley Forest. After visiting a quarry, continue to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty before finishing the walk in the pretty village of Blanchland.

This section of the Weardale Way follows the loops of the River Wear. It is a tranquil place with many vistas of the river along the way ending at Sunderland Bridge.

This section of the walk begins at Whitworth Hall Country Park with its deer, crosses farmland before passing through the pretty village of Tudhoe and then joins the Weardale Way for a short section before reaching the outskirts of Durham City.

This short walk from Escomb to Bishop Auckland follows the River Wear. It affords a great view of the Newton Cap Viaduct and allows plenty of time to explore Bishop Auckland.

This shorter section allows follows the Auckland Way for a time before crossing farmland to Whitworth Hall and Deer Park.

Explore our historic local town and its surrounding countryside.

A gentle walk through Auckland Park taking in the River Wear, River Gaunless, Walled Garden and Deer House.

This section of The Way of Life is relatively short to enable you to fully explore Bishop Auckland Castle Park and Binchester Roman Fort, a short diversion from the path.

The final section of the Gainford to Escomb section of The Way of Life continues across farmland and through small villages finishing at the ancient church in Escomb. A section of this walk follows the Etherley Incline, the route of the first passenger railway in the world. The last part of the walk shares a route with the Weardale Way.

The 1st stage of this trail is a beautiful walk in Northumberland. It starts at the small church of St Oswald near Hadrian's Wall and crosses open countryside, passes through the village of Acomb before winding its way through Hexham to Hexham Abbey. There is so much to learn about the history of Northumbria along this walk.

The Way of Light is one of the Northern Saints Trails, starting in Northumberland, it passes through a number of religious sites ending at Durham Cathedral. This walk is very special as it also takes in beautiful scenery throughout the walk and passes through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The route passes through many pretty villages which will no doubt make you want to linger a little while. Highlights along the way include Hexham Abbey, Blanchland, Ushaw College and of course Durham Cathedral.