Rushyford to Croxdale - Along the Great North Road

The 4th section of the Along the Great North Road walk joins two former coaching inns and roughly follows the modern day A167 through countryside, diverting into the former mining communities of Ferryhill and Chilton. Along the way is evidence of the old coaching route if you look out for it.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Along the Great North Road (County Durham)

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.25 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 97 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 50 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 163 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 85 m

Description de la randonnée

Start : Eden Arms Hotel, Rushyford. (DL17 0LL) Grid ref. NZ 283 288

(S) Standing in front of the Eden Arms facing north, turn to your right and cross the A167, then turn left and cross the A689 following the road towards Durham. Just off the roundabout, follow the cycle path to your right into Chiltern.

(1) When you reach Durham Road, turn right and follow Durham Road into Chilton passing the Wheatsheaf Inn on your left. Continue past Eden Terrace to the roundabout.

(2) Cross the roundabout heading North towards the cemetery. Continue past the cemetery and at the end of the road, continue North on the footpath until you rejoin the A167 towards Durham and Ferryhill. Continue into Ferryhill, passing the petrol station on your right, cross Dean Road still heading North.

(3) At the next junction, bear right along Darlington Road towards Ferryhill Town Centre.

(4) On reaching the Dean and Chapter pub, take a minute to read the inscription on the wall outside, then bear right (North-East) around Main Street, then swing left when you reach the Post Boy pub into Durham Road. Continue to follow Durham Road North-West until you rejoin the A167.

(5) After 1.5 Km you will reach the Thinford roundabout, named after the ancient coaching inn which used to stand where Costa Coffee now stands. Cross the roundabout with care continuing to walk North past Costa Coffee to the next roundabout where you will see the Coach and Horses, a reminder of the old coaching route and the Great North Road (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 85 m - Eden Arms Hotel, Rushyford
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 89 m - Durham Road, Chilton
  3. 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 115 m - Roundabout
  4. 3 : km 3.58 - alt. 140 m - Darlington Road/A167
  5. 4 : km 4.04 - alt. 162 m - Dean and Chapter Pub
  6. 5 : km 6.08 - alt. 134 m - Thinford Roundabout
  7. E : km 7.24 - alt. 123 m - Coach and Horses Inn, Croxdale

Practical information

Start : Eden Arms Hotel, Rushyford. (DL17 0LL) Grid ref. NZ 283 288

Parking : Park at either the Eden Arms in Rushyford or Coach and Horses at Croxdale (remember to check this is ok as these are private car parks. Alternatively park at the Thinford.

Transport: Arriva bus 7 runs between the start and end points of the walk.

Facilities: There are cafes and pubs in Chilton, Ferryhill and Thinford as well as the Eden Arms Hotel (closed at the time of writing) at the start of the walk and the Coach and Horses at the end of the walk.

Accessibility: The entire route is on pavements and cycle paths and is therefore fully accessible to all.

In the nearby area

  • Look out for the historic pubs and inns along the way, particularly the Dean and Chapter in Ferryhill. You will also see rows of terraced housing from the coal-mining era but also lots of modern developments. The site of the Dean and Chapter colliery is now the Dean and Chapter Industrial Estate.

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.