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Chester-le-Street Walks

2.30 miles (3.7 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This pleasant circular walk in the town of Chester-le-Street visits the riverside gardens and Lumley Castle.
You can start the walk from the parking area at the riverside park, just to the east of the city centre. You could also start from the train station and walk a short distance through the town to the river.
In the pretty park there are wildflower meadows, sculptures, artist-designed ornamental gardens, a cafe and nice riverside footpaths. After exploring the park, cross Lumley Bridge and pick up the Weardale Way which will take you along the River Wear to Lumley Castle.
The impressive 14th-century quadrangular castle is now a hotel where you could enjoy a nice cream tea before continuing your walk.
After leaving the castle the route heads through the golf course to return to the river and the finish point at the car park.

Chester-le-Street OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Chester-le-Street Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Chester-le-Street

Pubs/Cafes

The Butchers Arms has a good selection of real ales and a garden area. You can find them at postcode DH3 3QD for your sat navs. They are also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The Sunderland Walk explores Roker Beach and the harbour at the mouth of the River Wear.
If you follow the Weardale Way south for a few miles you could visit one of the area's historic highlights at Finchale Abbey. Here you can explore the photogenic ruins of the ancient abbey which dates back to the 13th century. The Grade I listed priory site is run by English Heritage and includes woodland and riverside walks.
For more walking ideas in the area see the County Durham Walks page.

Photos

Park with sculptures - geograph.org.uk - 525399

Park with sculptures

River Wear, with playground in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street in the background - geograph.org.uk - 176714

River Wear, with playground in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street in the background

Lumley Castle Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 579104

Lumley Castle Hotel

New wildflower meadow next to the River Wear - geograph.org.uk - 525402

New wildflower meadow next to the River Wear

The River Wear at Chester-le-Street - geograph.org.uk - 3243880

The River Wear at Chester-le-Street. The river runs out to sea at Sunderland to the east. 

Chester-le-Street - geograph.org.uk - 4056400

Chester-le-Street town centre. The town's name comes from the ancient Roman fort and road. The Roman fort is the "Chester" (from the Latin castra) and the "Street" refers to the paved Roman road that ran north–south through the town.

Aerial view of Chester Burn Railway Viaduct, Chester-le-Street

Aerial view of Chester Burn Railway Viaduct, Chester-le-Street. This viaduct is located to the northwest of the town centre and was completed in 1868 for the North Eastern Railway, to enable trains to travel at high speed on a more direct route between Newcastle and Durham. It is over 230m long with 11 arches, now spanning a road and supermarket car-park, and is a Grade II listed structure.

The Queens Head Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 1605674

The Queens Head Hotel An old Coaching Inn. The Queens Head Hotel is an old established coaching inn, referred to in an indenture of 1777, sharing in the great historical past of the old Northumbrian town of Alnwick with its many traditional trades and crafts, regulary meeting at the old shambles buildings opposite. The Queens Head has always been a regular stopping off point for travellers on the Great North Road and continues the tradition of providing good food, beers and accommodation.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Chester-le-Street.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Chester-le-Street.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)