Annfield Plain: an easy accessible 1500m Pushchair Pootle

Parking is available in side streets close to the starting point. This route is also accessible via public transport. From Durham, take Go North East bus no. 44. From Chester-le-Street, take Go North East bus no. 78. From Stanley, take Go North East bus no. V8, 44, 78 or Stanley Travel bus no. 707.

[1] Start at Old School House. Turn right onto a side road keeping the pub behind you and take the first left onto a public footpath (robust pushchairs could be pushed through the gap by the fence post). Continue up a rough footpath passing a field on your right and houses on your left.

[2] As the tarmac path bends round a stone wall turn right as the path forks and continue on this tarmac path. You will pass allotments on your left and then a row of terraced houses. Continue on the footpath passing Annfield Plain Junior School on your right. 

[3] Turn left when you reach Front Street and cross the road at the pedestrian refuge. Go straight onto the footpath to the left of Tesco signed C2C Consett. Stay on the path with Tesco on your right.

[4] Bear left with the path and exit through a gap in the wall. You will then arrive at the tennis courts and bowling green of Annfield Plain Park which was built in 1920 by the miners in the area and stands as a testament to the hard work and community spirit of the region. There is a bowls club, tennis courts, football pitch with changing rooms, children's play area, games area, sensory garden, picnic tables, and car park. Tennis coaching and play ranger activities are carried out in school holidays by Leisure Works.

[5] Turn left and join St Aiden’s Crescent. The houses will be on your right. 

[6] At the end of the houses turn left through a gap in the wall and turn right to re-join Front Street. Cross over Front Street at the pedestrian refuge and turn left. You will pass Annfield Plain Junior School on your right.

[7] Bear right when you reach the round a bout and continue back up Front Street to the Plainsman Pub.

A) Annfield Plain Park Bowling Green - The Bowling Club was formed in 1926 and has had many success, being winners of the N.W. Durham district county Finals in 1948 for the rink, triples, pairs and singles.

The President's Match was held in 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1970. The Shimmeld Bowls has been won 11 times by the club.

B) Annfield Plain Park Tennis Courts - The original layout consisted of seven tennis courts, due to subsidence in 1935 some of the courts were abandoned and their usage changed to ornamental gardens.

As football became more popular some of the tennis courts have changed to become football fields.