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Stanhope Walks

5 miles (8 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This small market town is located in County Durham on the River Wear. There's some nice riverside and countryside trails to try in the area. It's surrounded by the moorland of the North Pennines where there are lots of good opportunities for walkers too.
The town is also notable as the current terminus of the Weardale Railway, a historic heritage railway. It runs from Bishop Auckland, with stations at Frosterley, Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear.
This walk takes you from the town to nearby Frosterley on the Weardale Way. The waymarked trail runs along the river and through the attractive countryside to the south east of the town. At the end of the walk you could return on the same paths or catch the splendid Weardale Railway back to Stanhope.
You can extend the walk by continuing east to Wolsingham.

Stanhope OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Stanhope Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Stanhope

  • Weardale Way - Follow the River Wear from the coast at Sunderland to Killhope Lead Mining Museum in the Pennines
  • Wolsingham - This walk takes you along the Weardale Way from Wolsingham to nearby Frosterley.
  • Tunstall Reservoir - Follow the footpath around this pretty reservoir and nature reserve near Wolsingham in Country Durham.
  • Waskerley Way - This is a shared cycling and walking path that follows the route of the old Stanhope and Tyne Railway line
  • Blanchland - Enjoy a circular river walk on this easy route in the pretty Northumberland village of Blanchland
  • Pow Hill Country Park and Derwent Reservoir - This walk explores Pow Hill Country Park and the expansive Derwent Reservoir in County Durham
  • Burnhope Reservoir - Enjoy a peaceful circular walk around this reservoir in Weardale
  • High Force Waterfall - Visit the spectacular Low Force and High Force waterfalls on this waterside walk in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • Cow Green Reservoir and Cauldron Snout - This walk takes you along the beautiful Cow Green Reservoir to the spectacular Cauldron Snout waterfall in the North Pennines AONB.
    You start off at the car park at Cow Green Reservoir which is located on the eastern side of the water at a postcode of DL12 0HX
  • Rookhope - This village in County Durham is an interesting place for a walk
  • Allensford Country Park - Enjoy riverside woodland walks and magnificent views of the Derwent Valley in this country park near Consett
  • Smiddy Shaw Reservoir - This walk visits Smiddy Shaw Reservoir on Muggleswick Common near Consett in County Durham.

Pubs/Cafes

The Durham Dales Centre is a nice place to enjoy some refreshments after your walk. It incorporates a tea room, tourist information and craft shops. There's a wealth of information on the area and a pleasant outdoor area to relax in on warmer days. You can find it at Castle Gardens with a postcode of DL13 2FJ for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

If you head east towards Wolsingham you could visit the pretty Tunstall Reservoir. There's some nice waterside paths to try here.

Photos

River Wear at Stanhope - geograph.org.uk - 954085

River Wear at Stanhope

Durham Dales Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1119

Durham Dales Centre. Stanhope, Co. Durham (in Weardale). Arts and Crafts Centre.

Stanhope Station - geograph.org.uk - 1420412

Stanhope Station

Stanhope Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 614715

Stanhope Bridge.  A scheduled monument built in the 15th century and widened in 1792

Stanhope Ford (geograph 3311686)

A ford with a step-stone bridge for pedestrians

Stanhope Castle - geograph.org.uk - 398857

Stanhope Castle. Located in the centre of the town, standing on the possible site of a medieval castle and built in 1798 by Cuthbert Rippon, MP for Gateshead

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

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