New Herrington to Houghton-Le-Spring - Way of Learning
This walk is part of the trek The Way of Learning - Jarrow to Durham.
This 6th section of Way of Learning begins in the village of New Herrington and crosses farmland to reach the village of Newbottle. Continuing through the village, the route then crosses more fields before arriving at the top of Houghton Cut, from Houghton Hill there are views across Houghton-le-Spring and beyond. The route then drops down to Houghton-le-Spring where the walk ends in the town centre at St Michael's Church.
Technical sheet No. 30506010












Description
Start : Bus stop on the south side of Herrington Road/ St Aidan's Terrace (B1286) (DH4 4NL) Grid ref. NZ 347 529
(D) From the bus stop on the south side of the road, walk West on St Aidan's Terrace about 20m until you see the footpath on your left, go through the gate and follow the path Southwards.
(1) After 340 m or so, at the left-hand bend in the wide track, look for a much smaller path on the same southern bearing crossing the field and entering the woodland. The footpath will then bend to the right following the countour of the hill. The footpath will turn sharply right as it emerges from the trees. Follow the edge of the field and turn left (South) still following the edge of the field. The footpath will then take another sharp left turn along the hedgerow of the adjacent field, keep following the hedgerow (South-West). When the hedge curves, take the footpath on your left (South-East) and cross the small stile into North Street.
(2) Walk up North Street to St Matthew's Church. At the junction turn left into Front Street. At the triangular piece of grass, turn right and then cross South Street. Turn left into Cathedral View and walk South-Eastwards to the end of the road. At the bend in the road, continue straight ahead onto the footpath, walk between the houses and bear right following the garden fence. Then turn left heading Southwards until you reach the edge of the field. Turn left and walk along the fence (East).
(3) At the electrical substation, turn right (South-East) still following the fence and walk towards the A690. When you reach the A690, turn right (South-West) following the footpath for a short distance along the layby. As you reach the end of the layby,the path splits. You can take either route, the official path is the one to the right. After the paths converge continue walking South-Westwards then follow the path south and then South-East where it emerges onto Houghtonside.
(4) Headtowards the Subway signpost but turn Southwards instead of walking to the subway and continue walking down Houghtonside with the A690 (Houghton Cut) to your left. Turn right at the garages and then turn left crossing the bridge over Hillside Way (A182). At the bottom of the steps, turn left and walk around the back of the supermarket. Turn left into the car park, walk straight across the car park and exit at the other side.
(5) Turn right at The Wild Boar pub and walk down Sunderland Street. Turn left onto The Broadway where you will see St Michael and All Angels Church (A).
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 83 m - Bus Stop on B1286 (Herrington Road/McClaren Way)
1 : km 0.37 - alt. 90 m - Track Junction
2 : km 1.92 - alt. 109 m - St Matthew's Church, Newbottle
3 : km 3.01 - alt. 97 m - Electrical Substation
4 : km 3.92 - alt. 79 m - Subway Sign on Houghtonside
5 : km 4.34 - alt. 68 m - The Wild Boar PH
A : km 4.5 - alt. 67 m - St Michael and All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring
Useful Information
Start : Bus stop on the south side of Herrington Road/ St Aidan's Terrace (B1286) (DH4 4NL) Grid ref. NZ 347 529
Transport: There is no dedicated parking in New Herrington, there are public car parks in Houghton-le-Spring, take bus 35 Cherry from St Michael's and All Angels Church to the start point.
Facilties: There are no facilities on the route but there are a number of cafes, takeaways and pubs in Houghton-le-Spring.
Accessibility: This walk includes sections across fields and stiles as well as steep gradients.
Accommodation: The nearest hotel is the Highfield in East Rainton.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
- St Matthew's Church, Newbottle
- St Michael and All Angels Church, Houghton-le-Spring
Other walks in the area






This rural section of the walk takes in three of the North East's best known locations, Penshaw Monument, the River Wear and Washington Wetlands.






A short circular walk around Houghton-Le-Spring Town Centre passing some of the oldest buildings along the way. This walk has some gentle slopes but is on paved surfaces throughout.






Leaving St Michael's and All Angels' Church behind, the route heads through a park, past housing developments into open countryside before returning to villages ending at the Floater's Mill pub.






This section of the walk follows the banks of the Wear then climbs up into the suburbs of Sunderland finishing at Hylton Castle. The Shipwrights is the only reminder here of shipbuilding in Hylton and Ferryboat Lane, the only reminder that there was once a ferry here.






This is the 5th section of the Way of Learning. From the busy housing estates of South Hylton, the route passes under the A19 and into open countryside and small villages. The route climbs Penshaw Hill to Penshaw Monument for spectacular views of the surrounding area before descending to Herrington Country Park finishing in the village of New Herrington.






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.







An easy circular walk around the historic Lambton Estate.






This short section of the Weardale Way winds through Biddick Woods and along both banks of the River Wear giving views of the Victoria Viaduct. It is gently downhill or level for most of the route and paved for most of the way making it a good walk after rain. There are a number of pubs along the river to while away a wet afternoon or enjoy a summer drink at the end of the walk.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.