Stillington to Wynyard - Durham Round Trail

Start at Stillington Community Centre

(S) From the community centre, join the main road (South Street/Morrison Street) and walk northeast towards the church.

(1) At the church turn left following the cobbled footpath which runs northwards along the church boundary. Keep right when you reach the fork at the end of the church wall, follow this footpath bearing right (northeast) across the field. The footpath is not clearly defined across the field, but heads towards the road where you will find a stile in the wall.

(2) Cross the road and look for the sign in the hedge indicating the bridleway to Thorpe Thewles. This initially runs east between two field boundaries, then at the end of the field boundary continue straight ahead eastwards across the field to the next field boundary in front of you.

(3) When you reach the hedgeline, cross the ditch, then follow the course of the ditch to your right across the field, southeastwards. At the point where the ditch turns south, continue on the southeast direction across the field until you reach the next ditch (Maudlin Gutter).

(4) Cross the Maudlin Gutter, this should be at the corner of two fields. There should be a track running eastwards in front of you along the field towards some buildings marked Hell Hole on the map. This will become a more substantial lane called Hellhole Lane, follow this northeast towards the road.

(5) Turn right onto Durham Road and walk into the village of Thorpe Thewles. Continue walking along Durham Road (southeast) until you reach the information boards.

(6) Follow the road around to the left past the church. This is not the original route, however at the time of writing the crossing under the A177 was interrupted by building work (October 2024).

(7) Cross the A177 with care, this is a busy road. Follow the signs for the cycle path on the opposite side of the road for Wynyard Woodland Park and Sunderland. This cycle path (Castle Eden Walkway) heads north past the Planetarium on your right.

(8) At Grindon Cottages, ignore the tracks to the left and right unless you wish to visit the ruin of St Thomas a Becket's Church to your left. After the visit return to the Castle Eden Walkway and continue north.

(9) The walkway will enter a wooded area and cross Brierley Beck. You will then reach a signpost where the walkway intersects with Brierley Drive. Taking the path to the left will enable you to explore Brierley Wood. Continue to follow this until you rejoin the path just after (10) or continue walking straight ahead to the next path junction.

(10) When you reach the sign for the Brierley Wood Loop (bridle path, take the left path which joins Brierley Drive through Tilery Wood, to the bus stop and small car park south of the A689. Alternatively continue on Castle Eden Walkway crossing over the A689 to the car park and picnic area on the other side of the road (E).

Transport: There is parking at the end of the route, Hartlepool Road Car Park, Wynyard, Billingham, TS22 5NW. There is no transport between the 2 places so taxis may be needed. The nearest town is Sedgefield and the nearest village is Wynyard.

Facilities: This walk begins at the community centre in Stillington, if open there are toilets here. The Vane Arms and Hamilton Russell Arms in Thorpe Thewles are open from 12:00 (6) and there is a cafe in the Wynyard Station Visitor Centre (7). There are no facilities at the end of the route.

Terrain: The first section of the walk between Stillington and Thorpe Thewles is across farmland and fields and is not accessible, however the cycle path from Thorpe Thewles to Wynyard is accessible.

Accommodation: There are several options in nearby Sedgefield including Hardwick Hall with its parkland.

• Forest Park Nature Reserve, Stillington. This nature reserve was created in the late 1990s on a former slag heap site resulting from heavy industry in the area (S) .
• Wynyard Woodland Park (Castle Eden Walkway Country Park) and Planetarium and Observatory are worth exploring (7). There is a visitor centre in the Station House at Wynyard which also includes a cafe.