Weardale Way Section 10 (Page Bank to Durham)

Introduction

Section 10 of the Weardale Way takes you from Page Bank Bridge, over the River Wear between Spennymoor and Brancepeth, to Baths Bridge in Durham City. This section is generally flat with the exception of a short climb on an access road past Croxdale Hall. It’s followed, shortly after, by a steep descent on possibly muddy steps in Shincliffe Wood. It’s just as well that the going offers good progress as there’s quite a bit to see on this section including the first view of Durham’s magnificent skyline.

Stats at a Glance

Distance 12 km/7.4 miles | Elevation Gain  95 m/312 ft | Maximum Elevation 95 m/310 ft (High Butterby) | Going Generally firm with potentially wet, muddy sections on roads, footpaths, trails, footpaths and tracks through parkland, woodland, farmland, urban | Exposure Fairly sheltered | Navigation (OS Maps Explorer 305; Explorer 308; Landranger 93; Landranger 88); GPS File | Hospitality & Supplies Croxdale (Ho) [0.5 km]; Shincliffe (Ca; PH); Durham (All) | Start Page Bank Bridge NZ 234354 (w3w: spout.reflector.remodels) | Finish Baths Bridge, Durham NZ 278425 (w3w: hurray.spark.pirate) | Grade Moderate | GALLERY

Trail Updates

The following updates have been published by The Durham Cow for this section: 070525

Description

The original Page Bank Bridge was converted from rail to road in 1947 long after the closure of South Brancepeth Colliery in 1931. The current bridge was opened in 1996 by Tony Blair MP. On the other side of the river, too far away to be seen, is Whitworth Hall, once the home of Bobby Shaftoe of nursery rhyme fame who, for a time, was romantically involved with the daughter of the owner of Brancepeth Castle.

The trail however, visits neither location but follows the trail downstream along the river’s floodplain towards the lofty, brick arches of Croxdale Railway Viaduct on the East Coast Main Line, near Durham. After passing beneath the viaduct, the route crosses the River Wear for the only time on this section – via c16th Sunderland Bridge – before entering the grounds of Croxdale Hall Estate where, apart from a delightful avenue of sycamores, you’ll find the Croxdale Burn, Croxdale Mill, and Croxdale Hall – the historic seat of the Salvin family. Further along the access road, opposite the hall, you’ll get a good view of its Grade I-listed Norman chapel.

Along the lane, at High Butterby, the route enters Shincliffe Wood, descending via steps back to the river (conditions underfoot will depend very much on the weather). Irrespective of the conditions the path through the woods is a pleasant one, undulating steeply in places. After passing Shincliffe Hall you arrive in Shincliffe itself which offers a couple of convenient hostelries, particularly The Rose Tree which lies on the trail where it crosses the the busy A177 (on entering the village there’s also a garden centre which has a cafe).

On the other side of the A177, across the river is Durham University’s Graham Sports Complex at Maiden Castle. Further along is Maiden Castle Bridge (once known as ‘Noisy Bridge’ although it’s a bit quieter these days). It’s overlooked by the densely wooded mound of Maiden Castle itself, once the site of an Iron Age promontory fort. A bit further along the path, by the rugby club, is the east abutment of Elvet Railway Bridge that once brought miners and their families into Durham for the Big Meeting. The area on the trail side of the river is known as Old Durham where there was yet another colliery. Old Durham Beck is crossed via Kingfisher Bridge with Old Durham Gardens located just off the trail to the east.

Around the sharp bend beyond Durham Rowing Club’s boathouse is a 750-metre stretch of river where the annual Durham Rowing Regatta is held and where you get your first sight of the Durham skyline comprising cathedral, castle and the distinctive, elegant – but by no means original – spire of St Nicholas’ Church. The promenade on the opposite side of the river is known as ‘The Racecourse’ complete with bandstand and a couple of sculptures, one of which is ‘The Durham Cow’ from which this site takes its name. In 2013 – back on the trail side – part of the steeply sloping Pelaw Woods slid into the river, a combination of good old coal measures geology and persistent wet weather. Not only does the rapidly approaching Baths Bridge serve as one of the finish lines in the regatta, it’s also the finish of this section.