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Hedley walks
Leadgate to Rowley - Durham Round Trail
Visorando Member
3.52 mi
+75 ft
-66 ft
1h 40
Easy
Departure from County Durham
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.
Castleside to Lanchester - Way of Light
6.55 mi
+151 ft
-512 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Healeyfield (County Durham)
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.
Annfield Plain to Leadgate - Durham Round Trail
2.80 mi
+66 ft
-36 ft
1h 20
Easy
Departure from Stanley (County Durham)
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.
Derwent Reservoir
6.87 mi
+141 ft
-141 ft
3h 15
Easy
Departure from Edmondbyers (County Durham)
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.
Rowley to Waskerley Station - Durham Round Trail
4.07 mi
+348 ft
-33 ft
2h 10
Easy
Departure from Healeyfield (County Durham)
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.
Edmundbyers to Castleside - Way of Light
5.43 mi
+446 ft
-531 ft
2h 55
Easy
Departure from Edmondbyers (County Durham)
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.
Great North Forest Causey Arch to Beamish
3.44 mi
+213 ft
-184 ft
1h 45
Easy
Departure from Stanley (County Durham)
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.
Around Slaley
4.57 mi
+394 ft
-390 ft
2h 25
Easy
Departure from Slaley (Northumberland)
Nice little circular walk on the edge of Slaley.
Lanchester to Ushaw College - Way of Light
6.19 mi
+371 ft
-177 ft
3h 10
Easy
Departure from Lanchester (County Durham)
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.
Waskerley Station to Parkhead Station - Durham Round Trail
3.65 mi
+266 ft
-3 ft
1h 55
Easy
Departure from Muggleswick (County Durham)
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.
Beamish to Chester-Le-Street - Angel's Way
4.28 mi
+36 ft
-449 ft
2h 00
Easy
Departure from Urpeth (County Durham)
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.
Beamish to Annfield Plain - Durham Round Trail
4.66 mi
+341 ft
-3 ft
2h 25
Easy
Departure from Urpeth (County Durham)
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.
Great North Forest Beamish to Vigo
4.11 mi
+3 ft
-367 ft
1h 55
Easy
Departure from Urpeth (County Durham)
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.
Dukesfield Arches to Blanchland
7.30 mi
+889 ft
-538 ft
4h 10
Moderate
Departure from Slaley (Northumberland)
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.
Blanchland to Edmundbyers - Way of Light
5.01 mi
+627 ft
-584 ft
2h 50
Moderate
Departure from Blanchland (Northumberland)
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.
Hexham
Association / Club / Walk leader6.13 mi
+876 ft
-846 ft
3h 35
Moderate
Departure from Hexham (Northumberland)
Explore our historic local town and its surrounding countryside.
Parkhead Station to Rookhope - Durham Round Trail
5.17 mi
+253 ft
-607 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Stanhope (County Durham)
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.
Ushaw College to Durham Cathedral - Way of Light
5.89 mi
+164 ft
-538 ft
2h 50
Easy
Departure from Esh (County Durham)
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.
Way of Light Saints Trail Short Section - Ushaw College to Durham
4.95 mi
+177 ft
-545 ft
2h 25
Easy
Departure from Esh (County Durham)
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.
Tunstall Reservoir from Wolsingham
7.74 mi
+732 ft
-722 ft
4h 10
Moderate
Departure from Wolsingham (County Durham)
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.
Ashes Quarry, Crawley Incline, and around the rim of Fatherley Plain
7.88 mi
+1,050 ft
-1,047 ft
4h 30
Moderate
Departure from Stanhope (County Durham)
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.
Stanhope Dene and Stanhope Park
6.65 mi
+669 ft
-666 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from Stanhope (County Durham)
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.
Rookhope to Westgate - Durham Round Trail
4.82 mi
+220 ft
-407 ft
2h 25
Easy
Departure from Stanhope (County Durham)
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.
Bellasis bridge
4.90 mi
+72 ft
-72 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Stannington (Northumberland)
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.
Frosterley and Stanhope via the Quarries, lead mines and Edges
11.22 mi
+1,260 ft
-1,247 ft
6h 15
Moderate
Departure from Stanhope (County Durham)
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.
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