Heddon-on-the-Wall walks

Broadly flat 5 mile walk starting in a layby 200 metres from Bellasis bridge (see practical information). Note: Do not be tempted to park on the grass, as there are many hidden ditches and gulleysYou will also have to cross the River Pont on stepping stones, but these are very secure.The river is just a narrow trickle at the moment (August 2025).Not passable in a wet winter.

Newcastle was once a walled city with a castle (the clue is in the name). This city walk traces the route of the old city walls, some of which remains, through the modern city centre and along Newcastle Quayside passing many notable sites along the way.

This section of the Angel's Way explores Newcastle City Centre and Quayside. It starts in the suburb of Jesmond, takes in Exhibition Park, shopping areas, the magnificent Grainger Town and three key churches of St Thomas, St Mary and St Nicholas, Newcastle Castle and Keep before dropping down an ancient street, Side, to the Quayside finishing at the Millennium Bridge.

This walk mixes the urban landscapes of Newcastle with the beautiful Jesmond Dene. Visit a ruined chapel, holy well and city centre museum to finish the walk.

This journey through Gateshead begins at the Baltic Centre for Contempoary Art on the Quayside and ends at the spectacular Angel of the North passing under the iconic Tyne Bridge, passing through the town centre, Victorian park and residential areas.

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.

The 9th and final section of the Great North Road crosses the River Tyne, the original boundary between County Durham and Northumberland, over the iconic Tyne Bridge into Newcastle Upon Tyne and traces the route through the city, passing the Town Moor to Gosforth along the Great North Road - look out signs bearing this name as you walk.

This short circular walk will take you along the banks of Ouseburn through the former industrial area of Newcastle, now a centre for creativity with its galleries, farm and abundance of restaurants and bars. This walk is excellent for children as there is so much to do and see along the way.

This urban section of the Angel's Way is broken up with a walk around Gosforth Golf Course and optionally the Gosforth Nature Reserve, finishing at the Brandling Villa.

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 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 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.

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 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.

This rural stretch of the Angel's Way begins at the Angel of the North and after passing under the A1 follows a paths across farmland and through woodland passing a number of villages on the way to Beamish. On there way, there are views of the area where once coalmines could be seen including those of Kibblesworth and Bewicke Main.

This section of the walk follows the old railway route and forms the second part of the Bowes Railway Path, starting at Birtley near the Bowes Incline (named after the system of pulleys used to pull coal trucks uphill) and continuing through open farmland to the Tanfield Railway and Causey Arch, the oldest surviving single span railway bridge. This walk celebrates the history of the Pontop and Jarrow Railway.

The walk starts from the entrance to Meldon Hall Gardens close to Hartburn, Northumberland. The location is steeped in history having been passed from the last Saxon Earl of Northumberland to the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaler. Passing on the route Angerton hall built in1842 by John Dobson, Low Angerton where the ruins of a 16th century bastle can be seen and Meldon Church which dates from around 1200

The 8th section of the Along the Great North Road walk continues through urban landscapes of many different architectural types, traditional Tyneside flats, modern developments, Victorian and interwar semi-detached houses, and many inns, both new and old, giving plenty of evidence of the Great North Roads route. The walk also passes the iconic Angel of the North and the beautiful Victorian Saltwell Park, allow plenty of time for diversions.

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.

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.

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.

The path continues along the C2C cycle route then passes through the new village of Rickleton and the old village of Picktree before passing the Lambton estate with its ornate castle then winding its way through the grounds of Lumley Castle on the banks of the Wear.

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.

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 3rd section of the Durham Round Trail walk, begins with an urban walk through the outskirts of Chester-le-Street before picking up the C2C cycle route making the walking easy going, however the entire route is uphill alll the way from Chester-le-Street to Beamish. Look out for sculptures along the way which relate to the industrial past as well as legend.

This is the 9th section of the Way of Learning. Beginning in Chester-le-Street, the walk begins in the urban town centre, then retraces the route back to Riverside Park with a walk along the banks of the Wear. Passing by Lumley Castle again, the walk continues on the opposite bank of the river before climbing up through farmland to the village of Great Lumley. Leaving the village the route continues along country lanes before descending through woodland to Finchael Priory.

The 7th section of the Along the Great North Road walk begins at the Chester Moor pub and then becomes an urban walk through small towns and past industrial developments. Throughout the walk you will see evidence of the route of the Great North Road through buildings and pubs, and also of the industrial history of the area. The route closely follows the East Coast Mainline so do look out for the Chester-le-Street viaduct which is an impressive structure.

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.