9.98 miles
Explorer Map 305, - "Bishop Auckland"
The highlight of this walk is Bellburn Wood, which in May is
carpetted with Bluebells and wild Garlic.
The walk started from Byers Green village, though there are alternative
starting points.
The route is very straightforward to follow, and there are no
particularly steep gradients involved.
The walk will almost certainly be enjoyable at almost any time
of the year. However, because parts of the walk are alongside
the River Wear, if the river is running high then parts of the
walk may become very wet underfoot.
We noticed plenty of evidence of flooding beside the river at
Furness Mill Farm.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Some new mapping software is now available which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!
Start from opposite the Church in Byers Green (NZ22529
33721).
HEad up the road Northwards, and opposite the War Memorial turn right
down the lane towards Hagg Plantation Farm.
Continue along the waymarked footpath that is staright ahead of you,
at a point where the farm track turns left.
The footpath takes you across a field to the disused railway track
walkway, - the Auckland Walk, Turn right and follow the walkway for
about one mile.
At a stone bridge which takes the walkway over the valley in which
the Bell Burn flows, descend by steps to take the footpath through
Bellburn Wood.
At the exit of the wood, turn sharp left on the waymarked footpath,
and head Southwards to where the minor road runs beside the River
Wear.
(Turn right at this point if you want to visit Binchester Roman Fort).
Turn left and walk, initially along the road and then beside the River
Wear, to the Newton Cap Bridge.
Cross the River Wear by this bridge.
Almost immediately turn right and take the Weardale Way footpath Northwards
to Farnley Hill Farm.
Just past the farm, take a waymarked footpath between two fences that
takes you over fields to the River Wear.
Follow the footpath beside the river until it meets the Weardale Way
footpath (in some woodland) again.
Head Northwards along the Weardale Way footpath, beside the River
Wear, to the park by Jubilee Bridge.
Cross the River Wear by the Jubilee Bridge, then take the road (CARE
: TRAFFIC) to Todhills and Byers Green.