Along the Tees from its source in the Cumbrian Pennines through wild and remote moorland and gentler countryside to the industrial cityscapes of Teesside and on to the North Sea.

The Way dates from the 1980s, when both Durham council and the former Cleveland council began developing the riverside walkway within their boundaries independently. The two sections still have different logos: a dipper bird (above) in Durham, a salmon in former Cleveland (Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton). The westernmost section between Dufton and Middleton-in-Teesdale shares its route with the Pennine Way National Trail.

The Durham section has 10 connecting circular routes:

• Langdon Beck, Cauldron Snout and Cow Green 15km/9.5 miles
• Cow Green, Herdship Fell and Harwood  15km/9.5 miles
• Bowlees, Holwick, High Force and Low Force 20km/12.5 miles
• Cotherstone and Eggleston Bridge 10.5km/6.5 miles
• Cotherstone, Barnard Castle and East Holme 11.5km/6 miles
• Greta Bridge, Brignall Banks and Crooks House 13km/8 miles
• Barnard Castle, Abbey Bridge and Whorlton 14km/8.5 miles
• Winston, Gainford, Piercebridge and St Lawrence's Chapel 20km/12.5 miles
• Middleton One Row, Dinsdale Manor and Dinsdale Park 7km/4.5 miles
• Yarm Bridge and Tanners Bank or Eaglescliffe Village 8km/5 miles

The route of the Way through Teesdale District Council's area, between Middleton and Piercebridge, is marked by distinctive iron boundary markers designed by artist Richard Wentworth, installed in 1996.

The 107km/67-mile section between Middleton-in-Teesdale and Middlesbrough forms part of European path E2.

From Middlesbrough, the E2 turns south along the Tees Link linking Middlesbrough Dock to High Cliff Nab, Guisborough (17km/10.5 miles) via Guisborough Forest and Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park.