Shincliffe Walks - Walk 4: Railway, Watermill and Woodland

About

Distance: 2 miles)
Grade of walk: Moderate
Time:1.5 Hours

Walk 4
Railway, Watermill and Woodland
Start: The Seven Stars

Cross the A177 road and turn up hill. Beyond the last cottage turn left crossing the stile. Keeping the hedge/fence on your left continue straight ahead. It can be muddy. Cross the stream on the left. Aim for the highest point where the views make the climb worthwhile.

Bear R into the valley following traces of a cart track to a stile into Sandy Cut Wood. Turn right along the former railway track - the first to serve Durham City and the local collieries - to the A181 Hartlepool road which you should cross. Turn right and continue along the road crossing the motorway to the marked footpath on the left. Cross the stile into the wood. In approx. 100 yards the path forks. The path to the right leads to Sherburn Hospital and returns via Sherburn Beck.

The left fork is a permissive path along the old railway embankment. At the end of this path turn left and follow the path downhill to Sherburn Beck and continue to the motorway. After the tunnel turn left and return to the stream. Bear right following the stream to its confluence with Whitwell Beck.

These streams once powered Shincliffe Mill J, now the site of the Nursery Garden. Cross the footbridge and continue to the main road. Turn right and in approx. 200 yards cross the main road to join the path in Sandy Cut. Turn right and walk through the cutting dug by hand in the 1880s. Turn left at the end of the cut. At the main road (A177) cross to path through the Churchyard and then turn left to return to the Seven Stars.

This route passes near to the following Taste Durham establishments:- Seven Stars Inn, Bramble Coffee Shop, and The Rose Tree Inn.

These walks are produced by Shincliffe Parish Council.