Stanhope
This is a moderate 8.5 mile route with some steep climbs in a few places. The walk starts on the south side of the Stanhope Ford and begins with a gentle SE riverside walk, along the Weardale Way. We then start a slight climb towards Parson Byers and the walk continues over fields and out in a loop, to the east of Hill End. From there, we walk over fields in a SW direction, towards Bishopley. There is a steep climb up the lane to meet the road and at Hill Top House, we reach the moorland section of the walk. This is an ideal point for the lunch break, with stunning views all around.
From there, we continue west along a moorland track and eventually north, over a grouse butts path, with further great views at the height of the moor. We descend off the moor towards Ridding House and rejoin the Weardale Way. For a short stretch, we retrace our earlier steps, towards Parson Byers. There, we pick up a higher level path to return on. Finally, we descend down a steep hillside over fields, and return to the start point, through the Stanhope Show Ground.
There will also be a shorter walk option, kindly made available by Dave Marshall.
General comments: The “uphill and down dale” terrain on this walk can make the route a little slower. I estimate that total walking time, including lunch break, will be approximately 5 hours. There are a number of stiles on the way and gaiters and sticks may be helpful in the muddy sections. As there are many fields with very young lambs, I would advise against bringing dogs on this route. Please also read the parking advice below carefully. Parking spaces are limited and car sharing is strongly advised.