{"id":4777,"date":"2024-12-13T00:11:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T00:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phoenixwalks.xyz\/?p=4777"},"modified":"2024-12-13T00:18:13","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T00:18:13","slug":"241204","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/phoenixwalks.xyz\/index.php\/2024\/12\/13\/241204\/","title":{"rendered":"241204"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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04 – 12 – 24\u00a0 \u00a0SUNDERLAND BRIDGE<\/strong><\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Distance 17.2 Km\u00a0 (10.7 miles)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ascent\u00a0 \u00a0303 m\u00a0 (994 ft)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Average moving speed\u00a0 4.14 Km\/hr\u00a0 (2.57 mph)\u00a0 \u00a0 Start\u00a0 9.39 am\u00a0 \u00a0Finish\u00a0 15.55 pm<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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On a hazy sunlit, somewhat misty but dry and windless morning, six of us left the coach on the A167 at Red Hills near Neville’s Cross.\u00a0 Walking back to a footbridge over the road, we crossed the A167 and then took the road heading past the site of the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346.\u00a0 We then took a path leading along the W bank of the R Wear which brought us onto the A690.\u00a0 After crossing the A690, we headed up through Lowe’s Barn before making our way along a path past some of the colleges.\u00a0 After crossing a stile we were met with an excellent view of Durham Cathedral below us.\u00a0 \u00a0 We then endeavoured to find a footpath leading SE down to the river but there was nothing visible so we took the road down to Prebends Bridge.\u00a0 I had planned to put in a loop at this point heading upstream near the top of the valley and downstream next to the river.\u00a0 So spotting a narrow footpath climbing up the side of the valley we took that but after a short distance it descended back to the river bank.\u00a0 So we turned around and headed back towards Prebends bridge.\u00a0 After a short distance, we noticed some seats next to the river which would make a good coffee stop.\u00a0 However the seats were soaking wet so we decided to look for something better.\u00a0 However, before leaving the spot I took a group photo as the river behind the group was perfectly still, making for an excellent reflection of the bridge.\u00a0 A little further on the group found a suitable spot for coffee next to a University boathouse so we sat on the steps leading down to the water.\u00a0 Again the water was still and we had excellent reflections of the Cathedral.<\/p>

On our way again, we headed downstream past the weir and on to Framwellgate bridge.\u00a0 Crossing the bridge, we then headed back upstream on the opposite side of the river.\u00a0 \u00a0This took us around the peninsula on which the Cathedral was built.\u00a0 It was pleasant walk along by the river, perfectly flat making for easy walking.\u00a0 \u00a0There were a couple of university boats out on the river but the crews did not seem to be putting too much effort into their rowing.\u00a0 In fact several runners who we saw at several points on the footpath seemed to be making more effort.\u00a0 Passing under a couple of bridges brought us past a cafe and other buildings but we continued on alongside Pelaw Wood with a sports ground on the opposite side of the river.\u00a0 The sun was shining more brightly at this point and the earlier mist had disappeared.\u00a0 Several more university boats were seen during this part of the walk and as we passed Maiden Castle there were 3 single person boats with the occupants throwing a ball between them.\u00a0 Soon after, we reached Shincliffe bridge where we had a lunch stop.<\/p>

After the stop we headed south along a minor road.\u00a0 After passing a garden centre this turned into a track (Hall Lane) which led us past Shincliffe Hall.\u00a0 Past the hall it began to climb slightly after entering a wood.\u00a0 For about 1 Km, this path undulated often via steps and was slightly muddy at the lower levels.\u00a0 It became more muddy at the aptly named “The Slidings”\u00a0 and then we came to the stepped climb of about 50 m up to High Butterby Farm.\u00a0 At the farm it was a pleasure to tell the group that the rest of the walk was on the level or towards the end, some downhill.\u00a0 The level part of the walk, in a curved westward direction, was on a good path\/track alongside Butterby and Croxdale woods on our right hand side and open fields to our left.\u00a0 It was during this part of the walk that I noticed that it was becoming slightly misty again and definately cooler.\u00a0 After passing Croxdale Wood House that track turned S\/SW and we began descending towards Croxdale hall.\u00a0 After passing some large stone buildings which had probably been barns we passed the small C12 chapel on our right hand side and on our left, the large RC chapel built into the north wing of the hall.\u00a0 We decided to have an afternoon drinks stop near the entrance to the small chapel.\u00a0 On our way again, we cut through a small wood cutting the corner off the track we had been on.\u00a0 This brought us to the drive leading up to the front of the hall.\u00a0 A further short descent brought us back on to the track and we proceeded along this in a generally westward direction to the old Sunderland Bridge.\u00a0 A little bit further, in almost total darkness (causing me a navigation problem) we reached the Honest Lawyer pub.<\/p>

A good walk in reasonable weather and mainly flat terrain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0Click on any photo to view full screen.\u00a0 \u00a0 Move through the gallery using the\u00a0 \u00a0<\u00a0 >\u00a0 arrows.<\/p>