County Durham and Cleveland

County Durham, often referred to as the 'Land of the Prince Bishops', forms part of the ancient border region of Northumbria. Historically, County Durham is a land hemmed in-between the two mighty rivers of the north - the Tyne and the Tees. The county stretches from the high Pennines to a low cliff coast. Its richly wooded landscape covers a treasure trove of coal and lead. Durham City is delightful, and easy to explore on foot. Its magnificent cathedral and impressive Norman castle are a World Heritage Site. The countryside is equally stunning, providing some glorious walking country.

The western half of the county, abutting the Northern Pennines, provides fantastic walking in the Durham Dales, namely Weardale, Teesdale and the Derwent Valley which comprise a third of the county area. The Dales landscape is a mixture of rugged upland with young, eager streams tumbling down waterfalls, and gentler river valleys with water glinting across wildflower meadows. Perhaps the most impressive waterfall is at High Force in Upper Teesdale, cascading 70ft. over steep cliffs called the Great Whin Sill escarpment. Caldron Snout, at 200ft. England's highest waterfall, is four miles west. Much of the Dales forms part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

County Durham's fairly short but dramatic coastline provides bracing but continuously interesting walking along the 11 mile Durham coastal Footpath from Seaham to Crimdon. Several lovely denes can be explored, some on National Trust land such as Warren House Gill and Foxholes Dene near Horden. Just north of Easington is Beacon Hill, also National Trust, the highest point on the Durham coast and famed for its spectacular views. Near Peterlee, Castle Eden Dene, the largest of Durham's deep wooded ravines, is rich in wildlife and a National Nature Reserve with 12 miles of footpaths. At places along the coast it is satisfying to observe sensitive restoration and regeneration work, assisted by nature, helping to heal the landscape from earlier industrial scars.

Inland, just north of Durham city, there are beautiful woodland walks along the River Wear at Moorhouse Woods. There are some delightful walks along over sixty miles of former railway lines which have been sensibly converted into countryside paths. Walking part of the Dere Street Trail, a Roman military supply route from York to Hadrians Wall, is also well worth considering. The guide below offers a great selection of the delights County Durham has to offer.

Cleveland, once part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, is the area surrounding the industrial towns of Middlesborough and Stockton-on-Tees. Cleveland means 'cliff-land' and there couln't be a better description of the local landscape, with spectacular coastal cliffs and the dramatic great scarp of the Cleveland Hills. Although the area has an iron ore mining and industrial heritage, which have left their scars, most of Cleveland is glorious countryside ideal for walking. Particularly attractive possibilities are the Teesdale Way, the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk. Another facinating town and country route exploring both beautiful countryside and the industrial heritage of Cleveland is the Tees Link, connecting the Cleveland Way and the Teesdale Way. An extended version of this is given on the Redcar page.

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Walking in County Durham by: Paddy Dillon. This guide book contains detailed descriptions of thirty three walks, the majority in the six to ten miles range, plus outline descriptions of several long distance paths and a handful of interesting cycleways. They are spread all over County Durham and have been chosen to illustrate the region's history, heritage, countryside and natural wonders. The terrain covered ranges from field paths to open moorlands, from the high Pennines to the North Sea. You will be able to discover something about the region's geology, natural history and heritage by following informative trails, or taking in specific sites of interest along some of the walks.
	100 Walks in County Durham by various contributors. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of County Durham, this book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book for residents and visitors to the region. The wide choice of routes are spread very evenly across the county, so no matter where you find yourself, a walk in this book will not be far away. The walks vary in length from 3 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Durham, North Pennines and Tyne & Wear Walks compiled by John Brooks and Brian Conduit. Includes 1:25,000 scale Explorer maps from OS. 28 routes to choose from. The walk locations are: Alston and the South Tyne Valley; Appleby, Rutter Force and the River Eden; Around Dufton Pike; Aukland Park, Escomb and the River Wear; Barnard Castle, Cotherstone and the River Tees; Bowes Moor; Brough Castle and Great Musgrave; Castle Eden Dene; Castle Eden Walkway and Thorpe Wood; Cauldron Snout; Causey Arch and Beamish Woods; Cox Green and Penshaw Hill; Crosthwaite Common, Rake Gill and Holwick; Durham - riverside and woods; Egglestone Abbey, Paradise and the Meeting of the Waters; Hamsterley Forest; High and Low Force; High Cup Nick; kirkby Stephen and Nateby; Lazonby and Kirkoswald; Marsden Rock and Whitburn; Ravenstonedale; St John's Chapel and Westgate; Staindrop; Stanhope; Talkin Tarn and Gelt Woods; Waskerley Way; Wolsingham and the Weardale Way.
	Walking in the North Pennines by: Paddy Dillon. This guide comprehensively covers the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, providing exhilarating walking in the area between the Yorkshire Dales and Hadrian's Wall. Wild moorland, beautiful riverside walks, woodlands, rich in heritage, this uncrowded area has much to recommend it. There is a useful introduction to the region which includes much of County Durham, Northumberland and eastern Cumbria. The walks, from 4 to 13 miles, are mostly circular, although there are a few linear routes. The book contains 42 walks divided into 12 sections.
	Also check out the following Northumberland walking guides, which include some routes in County Durham. - Walks in the Secret Kingdom; Best Pub Walks in Northumbria.