Broom Park - Witton Gilbert - Broom Park
You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.
Broompark, once a coalmine and coal storage depot, was also a junction of three railway lines. The area has been completely transformed and these days it is a popular picnic area and the hub of three reclaimed Railway Paths: Lanchester Valley, 12 miles to Consett; Deerness Valley, 8.5 miles to Crook; and Brandon - Bishop Auckland, nine miles to Bishop Auckland.
Our walk starts on the Lanchester Valley walk heading towards Consett, then leaving the railway line heading through farms and across open country, passing the chapel ruin of Beaurepaire built by Prior Bertram (1244-58), later destroyed by the Scots and rebuilt in 1346 by Prior Fosser. The walk continues along a river path to the 11th Century Church of St Michael's.
Witton Gilbert, named after an early Lord of the Manor, Gilbert de la Ley, was in the twelfth century a small village of workers who laboured in the woods by which it was surrounded. The church here was built shortly after 1170 as a chapel of ease within the large parish of St Oswald's in Durham. The church is usually open and free refreshments are available inside; a small donation is much appreciated. The walk continues onto the Lanchester Valley Walk to the car park from where we started.
England - North England - Durham - Countryside
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Industrial Archaeology, Mostly Flat, River, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland
Walkingworld members near this walk
Holidays and activities
Distance away