The
|
|
Rail -On main rail line
Road -Access from A167 from West
and A1M East. 2 mls from the A1(M)
Junct.62 - A690 (Park Prince Bishop's Shopping Cntr)
Bus -Buses to all major cities. (Ask for
Air -
Street
Diary of Events.
Historically
Northern Battles
A brief History
The Walk
A pleasant 1—1.1/2 mile circular walk, partly in the
historic City, and partly along the beautiful Banks of the River Wear.
Begin
Saddler Street (Located off the Market Place)
On reaching the first left on
Walking down the street with the pub on the left takes you to the traffic lights. Carefully cross straight over the road ‘New Elvet’ to the white building, the Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County 18thC.(Written in large Gold Letters) You are now in Old Elvet. The street is the City’s widest street and said by many to be the most attractive.
Old Elvet
Looking up Old Elvet
it is hard to imagine that from the late 19thC until the 1950’s the area was
the home of the city’s horse fair. However the nearby Old Racecourse may
suggest a link?
Buildings
The buildings in Old Elvet are mostly Georgian,
eighteenth century and originally residential, with the exceptions of the
Masonic Hall of 1869, the Methodist chapel of 1903 and the Old Shire Hall of
1895.
Walking up Old Elvet on the left
pavement with the Hotel on the left. Look to the first floor for the
famous balcony where several senior Labour ministers including Prime Ministers
have stood and addressed the Miner's and people of Durham.(see
Hotel History) Under the balcony turn and cross over Old Elvet.
Doing so you will see on the first floor of the buildings opposite the magnificent
carved cross.
At this point browse the estate agents properties advertised in their windows
and appreciate the different styles and 'values' of the property in and around
Walking on the same pavement away
from the traffic lights. The next building of interest
is The Methodist Chapel.
The Methodist Chapel (8 Old Elvet)
Walking on the next building adjoining the Church is the big red building!
Standing out
as the street’s ‘modern, old-building’, is the Victorian red brick building of
The Old Shire Hall, with its green copper dome. Since that time, as you will
see walking up the street, the university took over most of the other vacated
council offices in the street and now use many of the buildings in Old Elvet.
Continue walking past the hall until you see the Sign on the Lamp
post indicating St. Cuthbert's RC Church. On the other side of the road is the Dun Cow Pub
with links to the 16thC. Next door is a stone building
with the Star of David above the door. This is The Masonic Hall.
Turn RIGHT
Follow the path around the corner
walking on, as the path curves sharply to the right is St. Cuthbert’s Church.
St. Cuthbert's Church
Having stopped and admired the
church...'turn-around'. As if walking back on Old Elvet...to the right is a metal arch and a parking ticket
machine. Cross over and go through the arch. The path leads to the beautiful
stone columned frontage of Durham Crown Court. On both sides of the entrance
standing in black are the old entrance doors to the prison. It is said close
examination shows holes in the stone work where the Gallows were fixed when
required.
The Prison
Durham Prison 1810 replaced the earlier one at
Prison History
Durham
Crown Court.
Replacing the old assizes Crown
Courts are one of the senior criminal courts in the country. Trying
serious offences including Murder. There are public galleries in the
court which are open 10-4 weekdays (not Bank hols.)
Looking directly at the court
entrance turn to the left, walk on, the court is now on the right.
Walk out of the grounds through the
opening next to the gates. 0ut continue toward on the left, to 'The Visitors
Centre' on the right.(Do not walk past the
visitors centre.) Cross over Old Elvet…you will see
on the terraced houses opposite and the Street Name 'Old Elvet'.
Try to cross (safely) around about this point.
Stop and review where you are?
Having
reached the opposite pavement, turn right walk until the road forks, do not
follow the curve of the road, carry on left onto
Turn left and drop down
the road / track following the side of the cricket ground fence which curves
around the outside of the ground, it can be muddy here! Set out to the right are the sports fields or
cumulatively known as the ‘Racecourse-Grounds’ of
Continue down the earthen
path. On reaching the solitary brick building on the right next to the path, a
boathouse with white flag pole, see the date 1894 inscribed on it. You are at the River Wear. Turn
right at the children’s play area and you should be now walking with the river
on your left.
The
River Wear
Begin now to appreciate the beauty
and tranquillity of the river in its state of old age: usually
inhabited by several forms of craft…more especially those with several rowers
seated behind each other…accompanied close by on the tow path, by a cyclist
breaking the peace and quiet by bellowing instructions and encouragement at the
rowers.
The
Walk now along the riverside and
appreciate its beauty no matter what the season. In the distance set near to the
path is a bandstand and,
'The Dunn Cow' surrounded by
objects that look like massive gear cogs!
On the opposite side of the river
are the grounds and buildings of The University College of Hilde
and Bede.
Walking along
the riverbank.
Walking the riverside path the
first buildings over on the right are those of The University Cricket Ground.
Followed by the University Football Ground.
Walking on on your right...
Then one of The University
Finally The University (Coal Yard) Boat House
On a slightly raised level, behind
the sports fields and running parallel with the riverbank, is
Continuing the walk along the riverside…
As the straight path finally curves to the right the
walk goes through a gate, on the left is a boat club. Continue on with
Boathouse to the left.
Walking on as
the earthen path / road it curves around to the right. As the path you are on
curves the tarmac road to the boat house can be seen on the left on the other
side of the hedge/fence. As the earthen path/road
you are on continues look out on the tarmac road for a yellow and black metal
gate. Where the gate is, there is a gap between the path you are on and the
tarmac road. Cross through the gap, cross over the tarmac road. Walk straight on, into the forest on the well trodden ‘forest’ path in
front of you.
[Gone Too far?]
If you reach the entrance (on the right) to Cricket Club you
have missed the forest path! So Turn-around and walk back down the earthen
road/path. The tarmac road should be on the right. Look out on the right on the
tarmac road for the black and yellow metal gate and the gap in the fence. There
stop, ‘turn right’ walking through the gap and straight on across the road and
onto the forest path.
**Walking
straight on through the forest. Around 50-60mtrs in front, where the path meets
another path, in front of you is a high overgrown railway embankment, the forest path ends as does the corrugated
fencing on the left. Turn left here where the paths meet. Follow the path as it
now curves to the right between two crumbling brick bridge supports. Once part
of Elvet Railway Bridge. The railway ran into Durham alongside Green Lane to
Elvet Railway Station which stood where the Magistrates court now stands.
Next on the
right are the grounds of Durham City Rugby Club Shared
with Durham City Rugby Club.
The path
here is 'earthen' it is a 'riverside path’ which may be muddy with pools of
water dotted here and there. There are no barriers between path, walker and river, care should be exercised at all times. Children and
animals may need close supervision along this section due to the close proximity
of the river. It is still however a picturesque riverside walk used by many. (it is however advised to re-consult
the
terms and
conditions on usage of this site. Walkers must make their own decision as to whether or not they wish to
proceed along this section and do so at their own risk.
The
path now closely follows the curve of the river. Following
the path, passing the Rugby Grounds both path and river curve to the left. The word ‘fort’ can be seen marked on Ordnance Survey Maps in Maiden wood
which is on the right side of the path.
The path is heading to the footbridge
***Footbridge
Walking on to the point where
there is a gate (go through the gate)
several paths meet, over to the far right are the Grounds and Club House of
Maiden Castle Sports Centre.
Turn left. Cross the large
footbridge over the river. On reaching the other side/end stop! at the end of
the bridge-->straight on in front of you is a football field (not there
in the summer or between Easter and August!). Looking straight on from the end of the bridge. Respecting
anyone playing, walk around the football field heading
for the goal posts farthest away.
The trail of the path
is heading for a gap in the large and small hedge rows behind the goal post.
NB. Should the football goals posts
not be there (seasonal)...
Stop at the end of the bridge follow a direct line->'straight on' some 100mtrs in front is a large gap
between on the right, a ‘short’ hedge row, and on the left, a ‘taller’ hedge
row. Locate that gap. Walk to it and through it.
Bridge
over Beck
On the right is a small bridge over a beck (Old Durham
Beck). Follow the walk over this bridge. At the end of the bridge turn left.
Continue on the path toward a gap (old railway archway) in the large embankment
in front and either side.
Follow the path through the gap. At
the other side turn left where the paths meet. Over to the right is an unusual
landmark. Which at the time of writing has not been researched, therefore its
origin is ‘currently’ unknown? What is this strange building landmark, what
secrets does it hold? Two large grassy banks separated / halved by a set of
steps leading to a turret? Durham Old farm?
The walk continues curves to the right and rejoins the riverside
after around 150 mtrs. Emerging are views of the
other side of the river and the City Skyline. Left to Right are The Prison. The Cathedral. The Castle. Finally the footbridge over the river which will be used at the end
of the walk.
Follow the path as it winds its way
along the river bank. On the right the high lumber filled embankment is Pelaw Wood.
The next landmark is a very small
bridge over a burn followed on the right by another boathouse.
The next Boathouse is that of The College
of Hilde Bede Boat Club, Boat Club Information ,
at the entrance to the colleges of the same names.
Follow the path, with the
footbridge looming closer, on the right are tennis courts.
On reaching the footbridge (1885) over the
river walk across it toward the Swimming Pool Building. Walking past the
entrance doors to the pool, at the end of the building turn left. Now walking down the side of the building, with the baths on the
left and a car park on the right.
Take the path,
that is the right fork. The path follows a quaint but very narrow alley.
At the end of which you will see the red Brick Building of Old Shire Hall.
Walk down the street back to the County Hotel and the walk is complete.
Thank you
NW.
Please note that Newcastle
Walks does not accept liability, for the condition of the walks which can
change on a daily basis, or for any injury, fatality, loss or damages incurred
by any person. Newcastle Walks are not inviting the public to walk on any of
the walks, but are providing information about specific routes, that are available in the North East of
