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  • A Walk Overlooking Wear River and Durham Castle and Cathedral
    A Walk Overlooking Wear River and Durham Castle and Cathedral Photo: K.Mitch.Hodge, CC0, Unsplash

Hikes & Walks in Durham

England, United Kingdom

Outdooractive Editors  Verified partner 
Author of this page
LogoOutdooractive Editors

If you're looking for a wonderful area to walk in, then look no further.  County Durham is home to some stunning scenery spanning from the North Sea's beautiful Heritage Coast to the North Pennines in the west.  Here there are hundreds of beautiful walking routes and trails around the county, with plenty of countryside and Durham Coast to explore, there is something for everyone. Why not visit Barnard Castle and take in a little part of Durham's history. 

 

Hiking in Durham
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The 10 most beautiful hikes in Durham

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Middleton-One-Row 6 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
10 km
2:35 h
102 m
101 m
A truly beautiful walk with a bit of everything. A riverside path, woodland tracks, rolling fields, a golf course and a fab pub for a drink at the end. There's also a funny gate on the walk.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Barnard Castle 3 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
5.2 km
1:06 h
60 m
64 m
If you would like a nice gentle and flat walk along a beautiful stretch of the River Tees along well trodden paths then this is the walk for you.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
High force and lower force circular
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate
1
12.4 km
3:28 h
267 m
268 m
A beautiful circular route across the north pennies AONB. It can be walked from either high force hotel or bowlees visitor centre. The paths are clear and well marked. Some of the stream crossing require good balance to navigate the stepping stones but underfoot is generally good. Do not be tempted by the signs for the Strathmore inn in Holwick as it has been closed since 2021.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
County Durham Hamsterley Forest Walking with Wheels
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate
11.7 km
3:05 h
250 m
250 m
A ramble for users of mobility scooters - Walking with Wheels. A climb up through the forest followed by an interesting link across to the return leg.
Disabled Ramblers
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Aislaby 3 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
4.2 km
1:06 h
31 m
43 m
Discover a scenic 3-mile circular walk from the Pot and Glass pub in Egglescliffe Village. Follow the meandering River Tees, encounter friendly alpacas, and traverse beautiful fields, all while enjoying an easy and picturesque terrain.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Yarm Egglescliffe 3 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
4.5 km
1:10 h
57 m
60 m
A beautiful walk around the River Tees and through Egglescliffe Village on lovely paths with beautiful scenery for a gently meander.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Tees Durham 50 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate
80 km
20:45 h
443 m
459 m
This scenic walking route starts and ends in Yarm and takes you along an old disused railway, through some beautiful woodlands, along the north east coast and past an old saxon church and over plenty of intriguing bridges.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Yarm 4 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
5.6 km
1:25 h
22 m
22 m
A walk from Yarm Town Hall following a path along the River Tees and then through the beautiful village of Egglescliffe.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Hartburn Preston Park 5 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
8.1 km
2:03 h
63 m
56 m
A circular 5 mile walk from Hartburn Stockton on Tees to Preston Park following a scenic path along the river which loops back to the starting point. It offers a picturesque route that showcases the natural beauty of the area.
Community
Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Durham City 10 miles
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
16.2 km
4:29 h
248 m
218 m
A lovely meander following the River Wear north to Durham City and then out into the countryside looping down through the woodlands south of Durham.
Community
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Discover The North Pennines

The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which includes much of the Durham Dales, is a breathtaking landscape of open heather moors, dramatic dales, tumbling upland rivers, wonderful woods, close-knit communities,  and glorious waterfalls. The Pennine Way National Trail includes several circular walks, and extensive tracts of open access land make the North Pennines an excellent spot to go for a hike. If you enjoy walking, the North Pennines has plenty to offer, from the difficulties of the vast moorland environment of the fells to the more intimate feel of the dales. From tough long-distance walking routes like the Pennine Way to pleasant riverside rambles, there's something for everyone. 

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Pennine Way National Trail
Difficulty difficult
Distance 417 km
Duration 115:46 h
Ascent 8,999 m
Descent 9,143 m

This is the official line of the Pennine Way Way National Trail. Steeped in history, this National Trail chases along the mountain tops along the ...

13
from National Trails,   Community

Can you walk around Barnard Castle?

Barnard Castle, County Durham, offers a circular stroll. The walk appears to be a straightforward stroll down the river and back at first appearance, but there is much more to see and do. Along the trip, you may see various historic mills, churches, a massive historic house and Barnard Castle itself.  With spectacular views of the Tees Gorge, this stronghold is located on the outskirts of a beautiful working market town, providing lots of activities for families on a day out.

 

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Barnard Castle
Difficulty moderate
Distance 7 km
Duration 1:46 h
Ascent 37 m
Descent 36 m

A visit to historic Barnard Castle followed by a riverside stroll by the River Tees, a visit to ancient Egglestone Manor, and a return along the ...

5
from Andrew Locking,   Community

The Best Walks in Durham

A circular walk in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham. The walking trail starts at the Bowless Visitor Center and takes you to spectacular waterfalls. Summerhill Force on Bow Lee Beck is the first, while Low Force and High Force, both on the River Tees, are the second and third. As if these magnificent waterfalls weren't enough, the Pennine Way also has a lovely riverbank portion with views across flower-rich moorlands, plant-rich forested valley slopes, and highland meadows. 

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Middleton-in-Teesdale and High Force
Difficulty
Distance 19.7 km
Duration 5:05 h
Ascent 244 m
Descent 244 m

The Middleton-in-Teesdale and High Force walk in the North Pennines

from Paul Beal,   Community

County Durham’s largest forest, Hamsterley has a mixture of deciduous woodland, meadows and coniferous woods. Hamsterley Woodland Forest is a 2,000-acre paradise that sprawls along the sheltering valley's sides. The walking routes will lead you straight into the heart of the forest, where you can see some amazing animals. Roe deer eating, adders sunbathing on rocks, and even salmon jumping upstream on the beck may be seen by early morning hikers. 

 

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Hamsterley Forest
Map / Hamsterley Forest
Difficulty moderate
Distance 14.5 km
Duration 3:44 h
Ascent 153 m
Descent 153 m

Hamsterley Forest is a great place for exciting mountain bike trails, leisurely family cycle rides or peaceful woodland walking.

from Oliver Myers,   Community

Trail the Weardale Way! This walk, in either direction, provides some insight into Durham's industrial heritage, takes you past the World Heritage Site of Durham's Cathedral and Castle, visits Roman and Norman settlement sites, and enjoys the unspoiled countryside of the river and dale, which is part of the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Weardale, County Durham
Difficulty moderate
Distance 11.8 km
Duration 5:48 h
Ascent 271 m
Descent 276 m

Walk the North Pennine moorland to visit the mining relics where W.H.Auden felt the awakening of his poetic imagination.Distance 7 miles (11 km ...

13
from BBC Countryfile Magazine,   BBC Countryfile Magazine

The Durham Coastal Footpath runs from Seaham in the north to Crimdon in the south, passing through spectacular clifftop scenery. This shoreline has been shaped by ongoing natural and man-made change, yet it has always been a wonderful destination for nature enthusiasts. The underlying geology is Magnesian Limestone with boulder clay above it, which supports a great grassland with wonderful flora and various fauna, including the very rare Durham Argus butterfly, which feeds on rockrose and may be observed during the summer months.

Hiking route · Durham
Durham Coastal Footpath
Map / Durham Coastal Footpath
February 04, 2020 08:44 PM
Distance 17.6 km
Duration 4:30 h
Ascent 70 m
Descent 59 m
from John Lill,   Community

From the isolated high moorlands of Cumbria and Durham to the industrial landscapes of Teeside and the coast, the Teesdale Way long distance footpath mostly follows the banks of the River Tees from near its source to the sea. The Teesdale Way is a 92-mile path in its entirety and is rated as moderately difficult.

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Teesdale Way Circular
Map / Teesdale Way Circular
Difficulty easy
Distance 8.5 km
Duration 2:08 h
Ascent 53 m
Descent 51 m

Circular walk, part riverside, park railway walk. Flat

3
from ninth ace,   Community

Discover the fauna and history of Derwent Reservoir while taking in the spectacular vistas of the reservoir on the multi-user route. The stroll is straightforward and comfortable for bikes, pedestrians, wheelchairs, and pushchairs alike. Shorter stretches of the walk may be found from the visitor centre along the dam to Pow Hill Country Park, or from the north bank of the dam wall to Millshield picnic spot. A variety of wildlife treasures may also be found throughout the walk.

Hiking Route · United Kingdom
Derwent Lake circle
Map / Derwent Lake circle
Difficulty easy
Distance 14.4 km
Duration 3:43 h
Ascent 136 m
Descent 138 m

Derwent lake circle

4
from Dave Pearson,   Community
Explore our Travel Guide for Durham
Dog-friendly hiking

Reviews

  628
Edmundbyers, Muggleswick and Pow Hill by William
February 08, 2023 · Community
Great track. I just completed today. Good job I had the app as some of the tracks not easy to find. Great route thanks for sharing.
More Show less
When did you do this route? February 08, 2023
Photo: William Leeman, Community
Photo: William Leeman, Community
Photo: William Leeman, Community
Comment
Witton le Wear South by Simon
October 11, 2022 · Community
Nice walk, but some very feisty cattle caused a major retreat.
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When did you do this route? October 08, 2022
Comment
High force and lower force circular by Alice
September 20, 2022 · Community
A great walk showing of all sorts of scenery. Would suggest completing the route backwards as you get low force at the beginning, the lovely moors scenery and then finishing with high force in all its glory
More Show less
When did you do this route? September 20, 2022
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Photo: Alice Brown, Community
Comment
Show more Show less

Find hikes in neighboring regions

Cumbria Northumberland County Tyne and Wear

Discover other hikes within Durham

County Durham Darlington Hartlepool Stockton-on-Tees

Similar activities in Durham

long-distance hikes

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