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Walks Around Finchale Abbey

0.99 miles (1.6 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk visits the ancient Finchale Abbey in Framwellgate Moor, County Durham.
The English Heritage owned site dates back to the 13th-century and is designated as a Grade I listed building.
Today you can enjoy a pleasant stroll along the River Wear and around the extensive remaining ruins.
After exploring the ruins you can cross the footbridge and enjoy a walk around the riverside woodland on the eastern bank.
The Weardale Way passes right by the abbey. You could pick up the waymarked trail and follow it south into the city of Durham to extend the walk. Here you could visit the famous cathedral and pick up the Durham Riverside Walk along the River Wear.

Postcode

DH1 5SH - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Finchale Abbey OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Finchale Abbey Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

There is a small on site cafe where you can enjoy some refreshments after your exercise.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The abbey is located just to the south east of Chester-le-Street. You could continue your walking here by enjoying a climb to Waldridge Fell Country Park for some glorious views over the area.
The Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve is located just a couple of miles to the east. Here you will find more nice footpaths with lots of wildlife around the pretty lakes and meadows.

Photos

Finchale Priory and the River Wear (geograph 5649114)

Finchale Priory and the River Wear. The priory was an outpost of Durham Cathedral and was utilised as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham until its suppression in 1538.

Bridge at Finchale Priory (geograph 3448855)

Bridge to the woodland on the other side of the abbey.

Banks of the River Wear at Finchale Priory - geograph.org.uk - 3832473

Banks of the River Wear at Finchale Priory

Finchale Priory 3

Internal view 1

Finchale Priory (2)

Internal view 2

Finchale Priory from across the river... - geograph.org.uk - 208184

Finchale Priory from across the river with footbridge also shown.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Finchale Abbey.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)