Escomb - Etherley Dene - High Etherley - Low Etherley - Witton Park

A mid-County Durham walk starting from Escomb Church, one of the oldest and probably the most intact Saxon churches in the country. The first half of the walk rises through lanes and fields to the highest point of the walk at High Etherley before descending again through fields and lanes to pass the grounds of Witton Castle and intersect the River Wear, where the route intersects and follows the Weardale Way through Witton Park and then back to Escomb.

From Escomb, located on the River Wear flood plain, the walk rises along a southbound lane to cross the Weardale Heritage railway line then followed by field-walking to intersect Etherley Dene Village. Here the route changes direction and heads west through fields to High Etherley and the highest point of the walk. From here the rest of the walk is almost all downhill or on the level. The walk descends through fields and then takes a wide bridleway following the perimeter wall of Witton Castle grounds, where the route intersects the Weardale Way long-distance footpath. A brief meeting with the River Wear is followed by woodland, field- and pavement-walking as the route passes through Witton Park past the recently installed sculpture and memorial garden dedicated to the four highly decorated Bradford brothers from Witton Park who fought during the Great War. The final leg is along lanes and fields for an easy, fairly level walk back to Escomb.

England - North England - Durham - Wear Valley

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Walk id: 8189

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

7.4 Miles

Height gain

168 Metres

Duration

3 Hours 15 Mins

Average rating

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