Derwent Walk Total length: 12 miles (19km) Grid Reference for main access points: Railway Path Lydgetts Junction (southern end): NZ 099 493 Blackhill : NZ 101 522 Shotley Bridge Station : NZ 102 535 What is special? Ebchester Station : NZ 107 548 Hamsterley Mill : NZ 143 561 The Derwent Walk is an extremely popular linear route between Consett and Swalwell, with fabulous Rowlands Gill : NZ 166 581 views across the Derwent Valley. Its southern end, at Lydgetts Junction, links to the Lanchester Valley Thornley Woodlands Centre : NZ 178 604 Railway Path, Waskerley Way Railway Path and the Consett-Sunderland cycle route. Durham County Swalwell (northern end): NZ 197 619 Council’s ownership is between Blackhill and Rowlands Gill. At its northern end is the Derwenthaugh Access also from the Highway and various Public Rights of Way Country Park. This has two visitor centres: Thornley Woodland Centre and Swalwell, both run by Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 307 and 316 Gateshead Council. There are bird hides, picnic areas, information and toilets. Contact Gateshead Council for opening hours: 01207 545 212, [email protected] Directions: Lydgetts Junction signed on A692, ½ mile west of Templetown, Consett The Derwent Walk follows National Cycle Network route 14 for the most part and is clearly signposted. Blackhill car park is off Queens Road to the north of Benfieldside It leaves the Derwent Walk at the Country Park and continues down the River Tyne to join the Cemetery, path accessed by a 50 metre walk to the west Keelman’s Way at Blaydon. It forms part of the C2C long distance cycle route. Shotley Bridge Station on B6310 from Shotley Bridge to Medomsley, 1 mile west of Medomsley, signposted The Derwent Valley Railway was opened in 1867 and carried passengers and goods between Ebchester Station on the B6209 from Ebchester to Medomsley, entrance Newcastle and Consett until the line finally closed in 1962. Line passes various structures of historical is below the Derwent Walk Inn, signposted interest: site of Derwenthaugh cokeworks, Axwell Hall, Hollinside Manor, Gibside Hall, Friarside Chapel Hamsterley Mill from A694, east of Hamsterley take B6310 east towards and Derwentcote. There is also evidence of old railway platforms, bridges and houses along the route. Burnopfield, car park is signed approx ½ mile down this road Rowlands Gill from A694 take B6314 towards Gibside, after 300 metres There are numerous viaducts, the most impressive of which is Nine Arches Viaduct at Derwenthaugh turn right onto Stirling Lane, car park is on left Country Park. It is 500 foot long and was built because the Earl of Strathmore would not allow the Thornley Woodlands Centre off A694, west of Winlaton Mill, signposted railway to pass through the Gibside Estate. Going over the viaducts you look down on the tree canopy (belongs to Gateshead Council) getting a bird’s-eye view of the area below. Swalwell Visitor Centre off B6317 beside Blaydon Rugby Club, signposted (belongs to Gateshead Council) Parking: Car parks at Lydgetts Junction, Blackhill, Shotley Bridge Station, Ebchester Station (2 disabled bays), Hamsterley Mill, Rowlands Gill, Thornley Woodlands Centre (disabled parking) and Swalwell Visitor Centre (disabled parking) more info... Public transport: Numbers 45 and 46 (Go North East) run parallel Dogs: Allowed under control. Please clean up after your dog Designation: Railway Path, UK Woodland Assurance Scheme certified, part of the C2C long distance cycle route Suitable for: Walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, horse-riders (horse-riders Contact the Countryside Service are advised to dismount before crossing the viaducts) telephone: 0191 372 9100 Habitats: Woodland, hedgerow, grassland, wetland, riverside email: [email protected] www.durham.gov.uk/countryside Whilst every effort has been made by Durham County Council to ensure accuracy of information, the Council cannot accept any liability resulting from omissions or inaccuracies. Derwent Walk Railway Path This route passes through woodland and meadow and alongside ponds and riverside areas. There are fragments of ancient woodland which are home to many birds including green and great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and sparrowhawk. The reclaimed steelworks site at Consett is now a vast expanse of grassland which is alive with the sound of skylarks. Lords and ladies The Northern Kites Project saw the reintroduction of red kites. This beautiful bird of prey, with its Dogs mercury distinctive forked trail and russet plumage, is regularly seen soaring along particularly at Rowlands Gill and Winlaton. There is a waymarked red kite walking trail and various viewing platforms in the lower Derwent Valley. For more information go to www.northernkites.org.uk You may spot fox, roe deer and badger tracks. Along the riverside kingfisher, heron and dipper can be seen. Plants which grow along this route include wood anemone, knapweed, field scabious, lesser celandine, lords and ladies, ivy and dogs mercury. Skylark Accessibility Statement The route rises gently from Gateshead to Consett. Slopes vary along the route but only those which are particularly steep have been marked on the map so you are advised to look at the route profile. Path surfaces vary from zoom in unsealed surfaces with some large stones to concrete and tarmac. There is loose material on slopes and on the Lydgetts Junction to Blackhill section. The path widths Sparrowhawk vary but are an average of 2 metres along the route with wider sections over the viaducts. For specific access information at the Gateshead section Red Kite contact Gateshead Council: 01207 545 212 or [email protected]. © Crown Copyright and database right 2008. Ordnance Survey 100049055 Badger Tracks back Photographs: J Reynolds, T Coult, P Watts(English Nature), www.northeastwildlife.co.uk Derwent Walk Railway Path zoom Elevation Profile: Route 5 in Map 11 ft 600 400 zoom Map 10 200 in 0 miles: 284 6 10 Route distance: 11.9m Estimated time: 3.5hr Total ascent: 766ft Total descent: 1500ft zoom in Map 9 zoom in Map 8 zoom in Map 7 zoom in Map 6 zoom in Map 5 zoom in Map 4 zoom in Map 3 zoom in Map 2 back zoom © Crown Copyright and database right 2010. in Map 1 Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 1 KEY Picnic Area Seat 110m Parking Gate The Grove 50m Sculptures Templetown Steps Up Steps Down X th x1 a X p Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 X le c y c Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 3m d n a rl e Bus Stop d n u S Direction of Travel to ! x23 tt 33m e s Hard Unsealed Surface Access to n o Derwent Walk C Tarmac via slope or steps, gap 0.85m zoom Road Crossing out X gap 0.85m Sculptures x2 Lydgetts Junction e p m o urha h to D n alk a y W t Valle S ay o ailw t r R y este a Lanch W back Hownsgill y e Viaduct rl e k s a W © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 2 KEY Picnic Area Blackhill X Seat Parking Gate Steps Up Steps Down smallest gap 0.75xm 2 X Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Bus Stop Direction of Travel gap 1.15m Hard Unsealed Surface Tarmac zoom Road Crossing out X x1 back © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 3 KEY Picnic Area Seat Parking Gate Steps Up Shotley Bridge Steps Down Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Bus Stop Direction of Travel Hard Unsealed Surface Tarmac zoom Road Crossing out X Benfieldside gap 1. 4m back © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 4 X KEY Picnic Area Seat Broom Hill Parking Gate Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 Bus Stop WH INN EY Direction of Travel LA E NE 63m b c x2 h Hard Unsealed Surface e s X t gap 1.5 m e Easy Access Route r x2 H i l Road Crossing l X Medomsley Edge zoom out Shotley Bridge Station Picnic Area x2 gap 1.5 m x3 back © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 5 KEY Picnic Area Seat Parking Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 E Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 AN L AW SH Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 31m X gap 1.55m Gate 14m zoom Bus Stop x3 out Direction of Travel L on g Easy Access Route Ba nk Ebchester Hard Sealed Surface Road gap 1.8m 60m X Road Crossing 34m 4 9 x2 6 A Ebchester Station Picnic Area x2 back X gap 1.65m © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 6 KEY Seat Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 zoom out Gate Direction of Travel Hamsterley Mill Easy Access Route Hamsterley Hard Sealed Surface Road gap 1.5m x2 X Road Crossing X 32m 48m 50m 23m 50m gap 1.5m X gap 1.8m back © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Derwent Walk Railway Path Map 7 KEY Seat Parking Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Lintzford Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 Gate Direction of Travel Easy Access Route zoom out Hard Sealed Surface Road/Tarmac Foegoesburn Viaduct Road Crossing Hamsterley Mill X Pontburn Viaduct 40m X gap 1.5m 32m back © Crown Copyright and database right 2011.