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Stanhope Walks

Stanhope Ashes Quarry PDF (938kb)

Stanhope Village Walk PDF (966kb)

Weardale Way 3: Eastgate to Stanhope PDF (508kb)

Weardale Way 4: Stanhope to White Kirkley PDF (512kb)

 

The County Durham Definitive Public Rights of Way

This website is not a PDF but it will provide maps of the definitive rights of way for all of County Durham's footpaths - just select Stanhope from the list of towns/villages.

The publication of the public rights or way is a guide for visitors but not a guarantee that the footpath will be open. Please report any issues.

 

Cycling around Stanhope

WARNING! The A689 is a busy main road

Take a leisurely ride along the back lanes from Stanhope to Cowshill, Frosterley or Rookhope.

The B6278 which crosses from north to south is fairly quiet but there are severe climbs out of Stanhope in both directions.

To the north of Stanhope you can cycle quiet c roads to Waskerley or Blanchland or take try out the off road section of the C2C between Rookhope and Rowley.

Visit Hamsterley Forest and try their off road cycling tracks.

 

Click here to seek out the quieter C roads in and around Weardale.

Stanhope from the south

Stanhope - the green and tranquil market town at the heart of the Durham Dales surrounded by moorland in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village plan is probably of Saxon origin though there were Bronze Age settlers whose huge hoard discovered at Heatheryburn Caves is now in the British Museum. Romans hunted the area and left an altar to their hunting god (now in St. Thomas' Church) and in Norman times the villagers supported the Bishop of Durham who came to hunt the Weardale Forest.

Click these images to enlarge them

Central to the valley Stanhope has a wide range of facilities for visitors, including a bank, post office, shops, cafes and pubs plus the only petrol station. The Durham Dales Centre hosts a variety of craft shops made by Weardale's talented crafts people in a courtyard setting, an information point, cafe, toilets and long stay parking.

Stanhope is home to the county's only open-air heated pool, the Weardale Open Air Swimming Pool, where swimmers can enjoy the relaxing experience of a warm outdoor swim within sight of the surrounding countryside.

The Weardale Railway follows the path of the River Wear and passes through the spectacular scenery of Weardale stopping at Frosterley and Wolsingham.

Stanhope Agricultural Show, founded in 1834, is held on the second weekend of September each year.

Places to Stay

Daisy Cottage

 

Places to Eat

Che Restaurant
The Dales Centre Tearoom
The Bonny Moorhen
Freddies Fish and Chips
The Pack Horse Inn
Everyday Cafe
Roots of India Indian Takeaway
The Old Village Bakery and Tearooms
Number 40 Cafe
Parkhead Station

Places to Visit

The Weardale Railway

The Durham Dales Centre

Durham Dales Craft Centre, Stanhope

The Weardale Museum, Ireshopeburn

Killhope Lead Mining Museum

High Force in Teesdale

The Bowlees Visitor Centre

Low Barns Nature Reserve

Auckland Castle

Spanish Gallery

Mining Art Gallery

Auckland Tower

Kynren

Harehope Quarry

Tanfield Railway

Locomotion

Nenthead Mine (pre-book Open Days)

Hamsterley Forest

Hall Hill Farm

The Open Air Swimming Pool, Stanhope