Weardale Way

Wooden bench on the Weardale Way

Weardale Way is a footpath that follows the River Wear County Durham. It is 73 miles long, starting at the Lindesfarne Memorial on the sea wall at Roker (54°55’1"N, 1°21’54"W). It then passes through Chester-le-Street, Durham, Bishop Auckland, Wolsingham and Stanhope. The path ends outside the Post Office in the village of Wearhead (54°45’7"N, 2°13’23"W).

At its eastern end, the route generally follows that marked as the River Wear Trail. Later it is waymarked to some extent by plastic discs attached to wooden and metal posts, trees and street furniture. There are several wooden 'finger' signs along the route that countdown the distance along the footpath in both directions.

Points of interest on or near the route

• Roker Pier
• Penshaw Monument
• Lumley Castle
• Chester-le-Street Riverside Cricket Ground
• Finchale Priory
• Durham Cathedral
• Durham Castle
• Croxdale Hall
• Escomb Church

References

• A guide to the walk is available: The Weardale Way, A Pictorial Walking Guide by Alistair Wallace (Jema Publications, 1997)