9.6 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map No 308 - Durham and Sunderland
This is a "four seasons" walk, which can be made
at any time of the year.
There are no problems with finding your way around, and providing you
have a good map and a sense of direction it is an easy route to follow.
In wet weather the footpath can be somewhat muddy near the river, but
this is the only difficulty you should face.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start from the car park beneath Penshaw Monument, just off
the A183 road (NZ3357654290). Climb up to the Penshaw Monument for a superb
view of the surrounding area.
Take the footpath down from the monument that head in a Westerly direction.
This joins a track heading South West for a few yards. Where the footpath
to Coxgreen Road leaves this track, turn right and follow the path down
to the Road.
Cross Coxgreen Road and follow the waymarked footpath in the direction
of Cox Green.
Where this path meets the River Wear, turn left and walk towards Fatfield.
On the way, you pass under the Victoria Railway Viaduct.
Cross the River Wear at Fatfield by the road bridge and take the waymarked
footpath along the North bank of the River Wear to Cox Green.
At Cox Green the footpath is waymarked a a Cycle Track. Follow the footpath
all the way along the North bank of the River Wear to North Hylton, passing
under the A19 Road viaduct.
Climb up to the viaduct, and cross the River Wear using the pedestrian
walkway on the viaduct. (CARE, - not only is there heavy traffic, but
the railings between you and the River Wear 100ft below are only waist
high!).
On the South side of the A19 viaduct, take the footpath down to the South
bank. Turn left, and follow the footpath until you come to the broad track
at NZ33832 56510. Follow this track in a South Easterly direction to the
village of Offerton.
Now take the road and then footpath in a South Westerly direction to return
to the Penshaw Monument.