Walking the ‘Way of Life’

A Northern Saints Trail route

by Joyce Wilson – St Andrew’s, Winston

Seven people expressed interest in joining me on the Northern Saints Walk – Way of Life- from Gainford to Durham Cathedral in four stages. A date to start was decided for Saturday, 29th January.

The day dawned bright and sunny – but Gale Force winds forcast – . We all met by the river Tees below St. Mary ‘s Church and left at 10 a.m. to do the first stage to West Auckland. The wind was not too strong at first, but clear skies allowed us to enjoy some wonderful views. However, as we were walking North and the wind was from the West as it grew stronger some members of the party had a problem not being blown over!! We crossed the fields to Headlam and then across their green to go through the side of a lovely garden on the path to Langton, arriving at Ingleton playing field in time for a coffee break.

From Ingleton we took a well signposted footpath north to Leaside, where we had to crawl under a fallen tree and then follow a diverted footpath route. Unfortunately with no sign on the diverted route we followed the wrong path but on realisation ( and with Dougal’s help with his digital map) we got back onto the correct path heading for Trunnelmire plantation. Here we stopped for our lunch break and then continued on to Bolton Garths and then onto a farm road to Fair View passing a partially developed caravan site. From there we followed a footpath crossing the bypass of West Auckland and to a playing field and then through a housing development onto the Green at West Auckland where we took a rest at the tables and chairs on the Green.
As we took our rest we discussed the next stages and agreed to complete on Easter Monday Stage 4 to the Cathedral.

Stage 2 was set for a Monday, which meant that not all could join us as they worked, 21st February.

Again it was a bright sunny but windy day, following a weekend of continuous rain. Only two of us met for this walk, Sue and I. We set off from the Manor House car park going North on well signed posted path for North Leazes and then onto the Etherley Incline. As we came down the other side of the Incline we met our first obstacle – water – rather too deep to walk through. So decided to climb up the embankment into someones field and then back onto the Inline hoping to have passed the water – a vane hope! We scrambled down briar and hung onto branches to find a depth of water that wasn’t too deep. We then continued to Low Etherley and arrived at the back of Pheonix Row where we met another walker coming the other way, who asked where we were walking, and when we said the Northern Saints Walk, he volunteered that he had helped set this stage of the walk.

From here we went passed allotments to arrive at Witton Park, a village that was once D listed, and now has a lovely entrance and village green with terraced houses looking onto it. Here we took our lunch on a bench beautifully situated beside flower tubs. After lunch on crossing the Green we came to the War Memorial which had a tribute to two brothers in WW1 gaining VCs, one in the military and the other in the Navy. Another brother also gained an MC. We continued on the journey to Escomb passing the Anglo-Sax0n church and then onto a path which went through a flooded field, where we walked round the edge to get to the gate. We met a gentleman who told us to keep to the fence as the footpath was too near the flooded river. On following his advice and then crossing a field we had to cross over a fallen tree to gain access to the footpath again. Sue was much more agile on this then me. On entering the wood via a small gate we noticed the colour of the water was orange, indicating it was flowing through iron. From here we scrambled up the hillside, away from the flooded river to gain access to a footpath higher up and followed this.

We saw lovely flowering willow and then two gravel pits, one of which had ducks on it. We diverted to a road again as the rugby pitch was under water and then walked up the hill towards Newton Cap and then to the bus station to get a bus back to West Auckland. It was a lovely walk with some delightful views and interesting places we hadn’t seen before.

Stage 3 from Bishop Auckland to Tudhoe was set for Saturday, 5^th March. We had a full complement for this walk, 8 of us. We set off through the grounds of Auckland Castle and viewed the newly restored walled garden. This was a more enclosed walk and we did need Dougal’s digital map to ensure we were on the correct path. We decided not to visit Binchester but to leave it for people to visit another day. Following this path to Whitworth, crossing a busy road, we found the church closed and as the hotel was not open this section of the walk was also closed off. We then back-tracked to the road, passing a statue of a deer made out of horse shoes in a garden. Walking on this narrow footpath we reached the path to Tudhoe. Here we took lunch on under trees and rested where we could. Following this path we skirted the outskirts of Spennymoor , crossing a footbridge to arrive at the bottom of the green at Tudhoe. What a lovely village. Tudhoe has the longest village green in County Durham and some very nice housing around it.

Some took refreshment while waiting for transport home.

– Thanks to Joyce Wilson who led the Way of Life Pilgrimage route on behalf of St Andrew’s church.