Tudhoe Village - Shincliffe Village - Old Durham - Durham City

Tudhoe Village - Sunderland Bridge - Croxdale Hall - Shincliffe Village - Old Durham - Durham City

A great linear walk suitable for the whole family, starting from tranquil Tudhoe Village. The route travels along a picturesque section of the Weardale Way that includes woods, riverside paths and leafy lanes and ends with a wonderfully scenic approach to the World Heritage city of Durham.

From Tudhoe Village the route heads gently down through fields and woods to intersect the River Wear and emerge at the old Sunderland Bridge at the point where the walk joins the Weardale Way long-distance path. A tree-lined drive then leads up through pleasant parkland to Croxdale Hall, the ancestral home of the historically influential Salvin family. From here the walk follows a wide, delightful dirt lane that hugs the edge of both the Croxdale and Butterby Woods. The route then descends through the Butterby Wood, once again briefly to intersect the River Wear before entering Shincliffe Wood and emerging past a popular garden centre into the picturesque village of Shincliffe.

Riverside walking follows opposite Durham University playing-fields before the walk leaves the river and passes through the largely forgotten hamlet of Old Durham. From here the walk enters Pelaw Wood on an undulating path that at a special point reveals through the trees an unsurpassed framed view of Durham Cathedral and Castle. The path emerges from the wood for a wonderful riverside approach to the majestic city of Durham.

The terrain as far as Shincliffe Wood is best described as very gently undulating on easy to follow roads, tracks and paths that are at most times firm underfoot, with the exception of the steep section down through Butterby Wood than can be muddy after wet weather. Apart from the undulating section through Pelaw Wood the remainder of the terrain from Shincliffe Wood into the city is flat and on good tracks.

England - North England - Durham - Countryside

Are you sure you wish to delete this comment?

YesNo

5/26/2014 - Jean Hanley

We did this walk 23/05/2014 after two days of heavy rain.The walk was very muddy in the woods. There are lots of wooden steps & slopes but no hand rails or handy tree branches to help so in parts, care must be taken. There is a diversion at the river bank close to Durham City due to landslide. This is well marked by yellow diversion signs. Overall, it was a lovely varied walk which we would happily do again but after a good stretch of dry weather.

Walkingworld members near this walk

Walk id: 6693

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

7.5 Miles

Height gain

168 Metres

Duration

3 Hours 17 Mins

Average rating

Rated by 1 members

Dog rated by 0 members