St John’s Chapel – Farming, Mining & Methodism

About

Walk length: 7 miles approx.


Start from the Weardale Inn, Ireshopeburn.


Follow the Mineral Valleys Walk waymarkers on a meandering route around the villages of Ireshopeburn, St John’s Chapel and Daddry Shield.


You’ll pass the Newhouse complex which included a grand house for the Lead Agent, and go on to the hamlet of West Blackdene before heading into Ireshopeburn.


Taking the road through the village to the west, turn left opposite Ling Riggs where John Wesley once stayed and take the track up onto Ireshope Plains.


Keep following the Mineral Valley Walk waymarkers to a spectacular view down to High House Chapel, the Weardale Museum and the Newhouse Complex, and then along the fell road down into Daddry Shield.


At Daddry Shield, turn left onto a section of the Weardale Way along the river but leave the Weardale Way before it crosses the bridge and continue following the Mineral Valley Walk signs to the south and then to the north of the river through St John’s Chapel and back to Ireshopeburn.


Walking Information


This walk starts in a valley and climbs to high ridges. Use an OS map to judge gradients, wear appropriate clothing and footwear - the route covers very uneven ground and crosses boggy land.


This area is covered by OS Explorer Map OL31.


Route provided by Access and Rights of Way, Durham County Council