South Hylton to New Herrington - Way of Learning
This walk is part of the trek The Way of Learning - Jarrow to Durham.
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.
Technical sheet No. 30505824
Calculated time: 2h00[?] 
Distance : 6.09 km
Vertical gain : 101 m
Vertical drop : 56 m
Highest point : 124 m
Lowest point : 39 m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Location : Tyne and Wear
Starting point : N 54.90431° / W 1.447784° 
Ending point : N 54.870582° / W 1.460379° 
Today's forecast :
Description
Start : South Hylton Metro Station (SR4 0RR) Grid ref. NZ 355 567
(D) Leave the South Hylton Metro Station via the car park onto Hylton Bank. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and pick up the path directly in front of you by the crossing (South-West). Continue under the A19.
(1) Once through the underpass, continue on the same bearing following the bridlepath sign for Penshaw.
(2) After around 900m, turn left (South-East) at Railway Crossing Cottage. When you reach the small village of Offerton, turn right onto Offerton Lane. At the junction continue straight ahead in the direction of Penshaw Monument which you will see up ahead.
(3) At the point where the road bends to the right, cross the stile straight in front of you and continue heading towards Penshaw Monument. The path will bend South-Eastwards running along the end of Dawson's Plantation to the base of Penshaw Hill.
(4) Follow the path straight up to Penshaw Monument.
(5) After you have visited the monument, turn left (South-Esat) at the edge of the monument and descend the hill South-Eastwards via the steps towards the roundabout. Cross the roundabout and follow the road into Herrington Country Park and turn left (South-East) through the first gate before the car park.
(6) Follow the bridle path until it bends to the left, turn right and continue South-Eastwards. At the end of the path, go through the gate and turn left onto the access road to the car park. Walk through the car park and around the end of the boating lake, the pond will be on your left and the lake on your right. At the far side of the lake, turn right and follow the path along the southern shore. The path will then turn South.
(7) At the track junction, turn left, the path goes South-East then turns South. Leave the park via the gate and then turn left (southeast) onto the road. Continue along the road into McLaren Way then turn right at the triangular grass area past The Stables and onto Herrington Road (A).
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 39 m - South Hylton Metro Station
1 : km 0.74 - alt. 44 m - A19 Underpass
2 : km 1.63 - alt. 41 m - Railway Crossing Cottage
3 : km 2.72 - alt. 96 m - Bend in the Road
4 : km 3.41 - alt. 114 m - Penshaw Hill
5 : km 3.63 - alt. 124 m - Penshaw Monument
6 : km 4.34 - alt. 75 m - Path Junction
7 : km 5.11 - alt. 74 m - Sun Seat/Path Junction
A : km 6.09 - alt. 83 m - Herrington Road
Useful Information
Start : South Hylton Metro Station (SR4 0RR) Grid ref. NZ 355 567
Transport: There is parking at South Hylton Metro Station, however as you will need to catch the bus back via Sunderland Interchange it may be better to park in Sunderland City Centre. To reach the start of the walk take the metro from Sunderland Park Lane Interchange or Sunderland Central Station. Buses 35 Cherry and 35A Cherry both go to Sunderland Interchange. Bus 39B stops outside Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens from where it is a short walk to the central station.
Facilities: There are many shops, cafes and restaurants in Sunderland. There are public toilets at Park Lane Interchange, The Bridges Shopping Centre and at the station and Museum and Winter Gardens. The Penshaw Tea Rooms are at the base of Penshaw Hill. There are also toilets at the entrance to Herrington Country Park.
Accessibility: This route is not wholly accessible, it initially follows a cycle route but then the route becomes a dirt path, climbing a steep hill and descending down many steps. To avoid the hill, (after (2)) turn right into Offerton Lane and then turn left walking to Chester Road (A183). Cross the road with care, and turn right walking towards Penshaw arriving at the base of Penshaw Hill. You can then pick up the route again at the roundabout.
Accommodation: The closest accommodation is in Sunderland City Centre which is connected by bus to the end of the route.
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
- Penshaw Monument - An iconic local landmark which provides views across the area.
Other walks in the area
8.71 km
+37 m
-59 m
2h35
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear This section of the walk begins at Hylton Castle (English Heritage) before passing through Hylton Dene, then passes through urban areas before crossing farmland and onto the pretty village of Whitburn and the coast line of Whitburn and Seaburn.
7.84 km
+49 m
-76 m
2h25
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear This section of the English Coast Path starts by crossing the Northern Spire Bridge and then follows the northern bank of the River Wear passing the Queen Alexandra Bridge, Stadium of Light and Wearmouth Bridge where it rejoins the original Weardale Way path around the marina to the end of the walk at Roker. This walk passes remnants of the ship building industry along the Wear and new developments such as the Northern Spire Bridge and Sunderland university Campus.
6.15 km
+40 m
-67 m
1h50
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear This urban section of the English Coast Path passes through Pallion and Deptford, the center of shipbuilding on the Wear. There is plenty of evidence left of this industry, The route slightly deviates from the original Weardale Way route to follow the new A1231 route passing the recently reinstated Doxford Shipyard Gate.
5.91 km
+34 m
-24 m
1h45
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear 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.
4.68 km
+50 m
-109 m
1h30
Moderate
Starting point in Tyne and Wear 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.
4.50 km
+47 m
-57 m
1h25
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear 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.
3.70 km
+4 m
-10 m
1h05
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear A walk through the conservation area of Ashbrooke in Sunderland including many fine buildings, Mowbray Park, Backhouse Park and finishing at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.
6.57 km
+71 m
-42 m
2h05
Easy
Starting point in Tyne and Wear This 4th stretch of the Way of Learning follows the north bank of the River Wear taking in the industrial and commercial areas of Sunderland. The highlight of the walk are the 3 impressive bridges across the River Wear. The walk starts at the Wearmouth Bridge, passes the Queen Alexandra Bridge and then crosses the new Northern Spire Bridge. Along the way, look out for remnants of Sunderland's mining and shipbuilding past.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
