Willington and Bishop Auckland

This is a moderate circular route of just under 8.5 miles: there is a mixture of terrain, a number of stiles and gates, and sticks may be handy for some of the downhill sections. We set out from the Jubilee Bridge car park and follow the River Wear in a SW direction. We cross the river to head to the village of Newfield and from there, we pick up quiet lanes to the E of Binchester Crag. We continue S, passing by the edge of Bellburn Wood and across farmland, towards the Binchester Plantation. We continue on further quiet lanes to the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. The Bishop's Palace is in view, above us, but we stay at river level, on the Batts and take our lunch stop there. The route continues W and we cross the Wear again on the Newton Cap Bridge. Back on the N side of the river, we walk under the very impressive Newton Cap Viaduct and briefly join the Brandon to Bishop Auckland Railway Path. We then take paths through the Kynren car park site and back onto farm land, at a higher level. The paths head N to the edge of Hunwick Village and we descend towards the old Hunwick Station and back onto the railway path. When we reach Low Rough Lea, we descend E, back towards the River Wear and rejoin the path we started on, at the beginning of the walk.

Dave Marshall will kindly meet us at Bishop Auckland, to allow a short walk option of approximately 5 miles.