The Durham City Seven Hills Trail

About

This trail passes through the many varied landscapes that encircle the City, while offering encounters with the City’s rich history and heritage. There are beautiful historic woodlands, a famous battle site, the site of an iron age fort, a Victorian park, the nationally important Miners’ Parliament building, university colleges and, most wonderful of all, superb changing views of the World Heritage Site of Durham’s Cathedral and Castle.

Windy Hill. The trail begins at Durham Railway Station.  Leave Platform 2 behind you, pass through the gate into Wharton Park. Climb up to your first hill, Windy Hill. At the top, go left and climb the few steps onto the Battery (ornamental fort) with the famous view of the Cathedral and Castle.  Walk towards the Heritage Centre and café. Spot the distant Obelisk which is on your next hill. At the Heritage Centre, go down the steps and slope to North Road. Walk up to the first turning on the left which is the steep Obelisk Lane. Cross with care. Half-way up is a fence. You can just see the Obelisk through the trees.

Western Hill, The Obelisk. The 30 metre high Obelisk was built by William Wharton to enable researchers at the Observatory to find true north. Soon abandoned, the Obelisk is now fenced off for safety. Continue to the top of Obelisk Lane and turn right into Albert Street (also called Western Hill) and on to the third turning to the left which is Flassburn Road and then into Flass Vale Local Nature Reserve.

The historic mixed woodland is home to many species of plant and animal wildlife. Follow the path for 120 metres down to the Burn. Cross on the plank bridge and turn left. At the waymarker post, continue downhill on the main path to the LNR exit and onto the road. Turn right onto the path to the steep steps up to Redhills Lane and the Durham Miners’ Hall.

Built in 1915, this is the home of the Durham Miners’ Association, also known as the Pitman’s Parliament. It is recognised to be in the top 10 of England’s ‘Places of Power, Protest and Progress’. Continue up the steep Redhills Lane. Near the top where the road turns sharp right, enter the old St. Bede’s cemetery (look for the sign for ‘Commonwealth War Graves’). Pass through the cemetery to St Bede’s Close and then onto the A167. Climb the pedestrian bridge to view the battle site where you will find an information board.

Redhills, Battle Site. The site of the Battle of Neville’s Cross (1346) is before you. Go back across the bridge to the SAME SIDE of the road and then take the short path to your left just beyond the railway bridge. Turn right into St. John’s Road and walk to its end where you will find the remains of the monument to the battle.

The monument was raised by Lord Ralph Neville who led his soldiers into battle here. Cross safely at the traffic lights and return to St. John’s Church. Just beyond the church is a path on the right leading back to the church and then past the scout hut. Continue on past the housing area and Ustinov College to the bollards where you turn right. Keep the playing fields to your left. Fork left to reach the Observatory.

The hill takes its name from the Observatory founded in 1857 for both meteorological and astronomical observations. It is not accessible to the public.

Observatory Hill.  This view of the Cathedral and Castle was celebrated in oil by the artist John Wilson. Take the path downhill and onto Quarryheads Lane. Turn right, cross the roundabout and continue 120 metres to the signposted path between the houses, then uphill to Elvet Hill Road. Turn left and cross carefully to the steps that sharply rise to St. Aidan’s College.

Windmill Hill, St. Aidan’s College.  St. Aidan’s College, designed by the architect Sir Basil Spence, was founded in 1947 but has roots back to1895. At the top of the flight of steps turn right to see the Wheel Cross sculpture and another fine view. Back at the steps, take the narrow gravel path down to the Oriental Museum and Japanese University. Just opposite the Oriental Museum is Teikyo University.

At the Oriental Museum take the short path by the chariot sculpture and turn right at the bottom to South Road. Turn left to cross at the traffic lights. Walk up Hollingside Lane to the Durham Botanic Garden.

Mount Joy (Buck’s Hill).  Mount Joy is more a plateau than a hill and has been the site of much development by the University including residential colleges, the Science Site, and Research and Business Park. Just past the entrance to the Botanic Garden is a roadside parking area. Take the gateway to the left into Great High Wood and follow the steep path downhill. At the bottom, turn left by the bench seat and continue on this woodland path to the road. Cross with care.

After crossing the road with care, follow the path by the fun sculptures to the waymarker post. Turn left up the steep path up the side of the hill. Just over halfway to the top, take the very steep path to the right.  Maiden Castle was an Iron Age fort of great strength protected by natural slopes on three sides.  Follow the path right round the site of the fort to the fence. Enter the open field and then head for the six glorious trees on the skyline.

Whinney Hill.  The final hill gives another fine view of the World Heritage Site. The lovely stand of sycamores on the top are amongst the finest in the area and are visible from afar. Take the path in front of the trees and down the slope by the gorse from which the hill gets its name. Leave the field and join the track to Whinney Hill Lane. Make your way to Palace Green via the Crown Courts, the University Union building and the fine Grade 1 listed Kingsgate Bridge by designer Ove Arup.

The trail ends at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

11km (7 miles), it will take 4 hours at a gentle pace and longer if you stop to admire the many treasures along the way.

The trail is mostly easy walking on good paths with some linking sections on roads. However, the length and the several steep rises take it from an ‘easy’ to a ‘moderate’ degree of difficulty. There can be muddy patches so good footwear is recommended. For those reasons, regrettably, the trail is not suited to wheelchair users or people with restricted mobility.

Printed copies are available at Durham Town Hall, Clayport Library and the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.