We are the Chester-le-Street Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Tudhoe Village & Auckland Way.
A moderate route of 6 miles, starting from Tudhoe Village. We head out SW over field paths and then pick up a woodland path, NW along the Valley Burn. We turn SW again on rural tracks on the edge of Spennymoor and then S, past Burton Beck Farm, until we meet the Auckland Way. A short spell W on this old railway path is followed by a turn N, through fields, towards New Town and Whitworth Park. The field paths are replaced by woodland again, past the Rosa Shafto Nature Reserve and then through the Black Plantation. We briefly retrace our earlier steps, in the opposite direction, and then pick up a different path, through woods and fields, back to Tudhoe Village.
There is very little ascent on this route and the majority of paths are easy to walk on. However, sticks may briefly be handy for some of the woodland stretches, and there is the odd stile on the way.
At the end of the walk, refreshments will be available at the Honest Lawyer Hotel, Croxdale. Their lunchtime menu includes a variety of sandwiches and toasties and many other light meals.
Directions from Chester le Street
Follow A167 S to Croxdale - NB you pass the Honest Lawyer Hotel on this route: take R for B6288, Tudhoe; at approx 0.4 miles after the 30mph sign, turn R for Tudhoe Village; follow this link road to the T junction with St Charles Rd and turn R; continue down this road, past the Green Tree Pub and shortly after that, you will see the red Telephone Box; you need to park on that side of the road; there is usually plenty of available parking space but please park considerately.
For refreshments afterwards, the Honest Lawyer Hotel is a couple of miles away, on the route back to Chester le Street. On the A167 N, you pass the turn off for Sunderland Bridge and Hett and then drop down to a roundabout. After going straight over, the Honest Lawyer is on your R, just before the road becomes dual carriageway. As you enter the hotel site, turn immediately L for the car park.
09.50 to meet and 10.00 to leave, at the old Civic Centre car park, Chester le Street, DH3 3UA
10.30 at St Charles Road in Tudhoe Village, next to the old red Telephone Box, which has been repurposed as a library! The nearest postcode is DL16 6LE. That is for the Green Tree Pub, which you pass on your R, shortly before the Telephone Box. What3Words is ///sidelined.penned.dreams
