Bill's Walks

Finchale to Bournmoor (Weardale Way)

Approx. Distance: 12.5 miles or 11 miles if the east bank of River Wear is taken from Lumley Bridge to Hag Bridge.

Start: Roadside Verge above Cocken Wood between Leamside and Plawsworth (GR NZ 297473)

Click to view start position on Google Maps

Map : OS Explorer 308 – Durham and Sunderland

This section of the Weardale Way cannot be described as one of its better stretches as little is seen of the river close up. The reason for this is that there are no footpaths alongside the river partly due to its steep banks around Finchale and the Bow Burn, which is not seen on the route. In addition regular walkers will have observed the shortage of paths in the proximity of the large country estates around here such as Lumley Castle and Biddick Hall. Other notable locations near here are the lands around the former Ravensworth Castle and Gibside Estate before it was given tho the National Trust by Gateshead Council.

We take the road named Cocken Lane towards Great Lumley and head north to pass by Cocken White House Farm. Just after this are Charles Pit Cottages on the site of the former pit opened early in the 1800s. There were several smaller pits nearby but signs of these have disappeared. Where the road bears right we continue straight ahead towards Great Lumley, a former mining village (now mainly houses) where we turn left, leave the road and head due north on the waymarked route towards Lumley Riding. This is a gradual descent and just before the farm we turn left, cross the stile and for a short distance descend more steeply towards the river before heading north again. To the left across the river is the Durham County Cricket Ground (now hosting Test Matches and currently the home of the County Champions) to arrive at the B1284. We now cross Lumley Bridge leaving the Weardale Way for a while and engage in some river walking alongside the Wear through Chester le Street Park. Lumley Castle on the other bank was built in the 14th Century and Sir Ralph Lumley, the owner at that time, was prominent in the continuous battles with Scotland, fighting in the battle of Otterburn in 1388. However in 1400 he was executed for treason, so he had evidently backed the wrong horse on that occasion! The castle is now an excellent hotel.

We go under the A1M to get to Lambton Bridge and head east up the hill. Here we have joined the Great North Forest Trail and after a short distance cross the road and take the footpath past Virgin’s Well, cross the motorway by a bridge, and drop down to Lumley Park Burn where we rejoin the Weardale Way, which here shares the route with the Great North Forest Trail. The path is muddy up through Lumley Park Wood past Garden House and the back of the castle – a view not seen by many and best seen in winter when the trees do not obscure the view. Just short of The Manor House we cross over the burn to reach some houses at Castle Dene. We turn back left immediately down the road towards the burn and the Smiths Arms public house and pick up the Lumley Park Burn. This is followed upstream to the A1052 road at Bournmoor emerging from the dene at the Floaters Mill public house.

We again leave the Weardale Way (which we will return to later) and follow a path through some houses and past the school to the main Chester to Sunderland road. Opposite is Lambton Park which in the 1970s hosted the Lambton Lion Park and was for many years the home of the County Showground before it moved to its new site on reclaimed land next to Penshaw Monument. We now walk to Bowes House Farm and just after passsing this farm we pick up the Weardale Way. From here the Weardale Way on its way to the river mouth is a fine walk all the way to the sea with abundant river life and some interesting places. On this walk we head the other way back towards the source of thr Wear and walk on part of the old Leamside railway which we also met on the previous walk south from Finchale. We leave this after a short distance on the right, dropping down to cross the Lumley Park Burn for the last time and here leaving the Weardale Way but staying on the Great North Forest Trail. The land here on the site of the New Lambton Colliery has been well restored and is now well wooded as well as having open areas. On reaching the road we head left for about 100 yards and cross over to go on the bridleway to Morton House. The Great North Forest Trail continues ahead but here we turn east to go through Morton Wood (owned by the Woodland Trust) to arrive back at the Leamside line, where we go south to Black Boy Road after crossing the line. Turning left we stick on the Great North Forest Trail to enter the Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve owned by the Durham Wildlife Trust. They own many other such sites which we visit, notably Low Barns at Witton le Wear and Hedleyhope Fell near Tow Law. It is interesting to note that they have recently acquired a new site called Stanley Moss, near to Crook, which is a sphagnum moss habitat and has breeding meadow pipits, skylarks and lapwings. They plan to improve the only Right of Way on the site along the edge too.

Both Rainton Meadows and Low Barns are on reclaimed land (from former coal pits and gravel pits respectively) and illustrate what can be achieved and created from derelict land. After a look around the site and a call to the Visitor Centre and Cafe we exit from the south-west corner on to the locally known red track to come to Marks Lane (GR319477). Nearby at West Rainton the local walking group (West Rainton Green Group) have developed three walks called Clover Leaf Walks and have produced walk leaflets to cover the routes. We continue west along Marks Lane to Little House Farm near to the Three Horseshoes public house (recommended). West Stables Farm (which is passed) was where the pit ponies and horses were kept for the nearby Adventure Pit now remembered on Adventure Lane in the village of West Rainton. We now take a footpath over the field in front to reach the side of the motorway where we head south and climb the stairs of the embankment on to the Leamside to Plawsworth road which is followed west back to the start of this walk.