[1] Starting from the Bowes Museum, with your back to the door, go left across the terrace. Over to your right, beyond the trees and over the road on the Demesnes, is Barnard Castle Rugby Club’s pitch. At the end of the terrace turn left, and continue ahead. Barnard Castle Bowls Club green and the courts of Barnard Castle Tennis Club are on the right. On reaching the perimeter path turn left and follow it to the gate, exit and turn right along the pavement of Crook Lane. Just before the end of the road, turn left into Kalafat, keeping to the right hand side pavement.
[2] On your right after the third bungalow there is a small cul de sac, at the end of which there is a signed footpath crossing a grassed recreation area. Take this and follow the path between hedges and almost immediately after the sharp left bend, take the sharp right bend (where there is a stone seat) and go ahead through a gate. Follow the path, again between hedges, through another gate and into a belt of trees, with Barnard Castle School’s playing fields to your right. The school offers for boys rugby, hockey, cricket, golf, tennis, athletics, cross-country and occasionally football, and for girls, hockey, netball, lacrosse, cross-country, tennis, athletics and rounders. Indoors there is basketball, badminton, squash, swimming and a new fitness suite/dance studio. After-school supervised activities include fencing, judo, table tennis, kayaking, shooting, trampolining, with skiing tuition and horse riding (off-site).
[3] Continue through the trees to a stile into a meadow, and go ahead through a wide gap in the hedge, then bear slightly left up the slope to a stile into Green Lane. Opposite is Green Lane Primary School where the following are offered: athletics, gymnastics, soccer, uni-hoc, tennis, swimming, cricket, netball, rounders and orienteering.
[4] Turn left down Green Lane, keeping to the pavement on the right side of the road. Turn right into Victoria Road and continue to the main road (Vere Road), crossing this with care at the designated crossing. Turn right on the far side and follow the pavement round into the Staindrop road, to find opposite the filling station, a signed public footpath.
[5] The path leads to Teesdale School and beyond. Netball, football, hockey, volleyball, dodgeball, badminton, table tennis, athletics, rounders, cricket and cross-country running. Follow the path, soon with the school playing fields and courts on the right, continuing only as far as the end of the school wire mesh fence on the left, to where the unsurfaced path ahead runs between hedges. (The path ahead leads to The Hub, a multi-activity centre for young people, obscured beyond trees. Activities there include canoeing, kayaking, BMX cycling, skate bowl, high ropes and dance). From the corner of Teesdale School grounds go left through a gap in the hedge to take the paved path over grass with Teesdale Sports Centre to your right. Swimming, badminton, short tennis, volley ball, table tennis, basketball, tennis, netball, squash, climbing wall, lifestyle fitness, gymnastics, skating, trampoline Go ahead with care on the tarmac track, shared with cars, now with Glaxo Sports and Social Club to your right. Archery, badminton, gym, keep-fit, squash. Keep to the pavement where there is one, and watch for traffic.
[6] At the main road turn right, continuing until reaching Railway Terrace across the road, signed Montalbo Road. Note ahead on the left of the B6278, is the entrance to Barnard Castle Golf Club. Cross the road into Railway Terrace, bearing right at the next junction, and keeping to the left pavement soon take the footpath left, signed from the road. This path runs between fences before opening out to cross a grassy slope up to Woodside. This slope, when there is snow on the ground, is popular with local children for tobogganing.
[7] Bear right along Woodside, crossing the road as soon as convenient, and before reaching Wellington Road take the signed footpath, left, between fences. After crossing the Hawthorn Drive/Fife Road junction the path continues with a fine view ahead. To your left, over the hedge, is Montalbo School where cricket, rugby, football, rounders and PE exercises are offered, and to your right is Barnard Castle Cricket Club.
[8] Continue down the path, turning right where it meets Vere Road, and take the first left into Baliol Street. Turn right and almost immediately left to cross Galgate, making use of the traffic island, and turn left up Galgate. Look out for and take the footpath on the right, under the arch, leading to Victoria Road, and on reaching it turn left. Cross the road when convenient, and continue until reaching Richardson Fields on the right. Turn in here and follow the pavement to the end, then ignoring the path going off left, take the footpath beside the Dawson Road play area. Here there is all manner of play equipment for small children, and a basketball court. Where the path reaches the corner of Wilson Street and Crook Lane turn right to take the start of the path that goes ahead between cemeteries, but turn left immediately to follow the track behind the houses with a cemetery to your right, following round to the left at the end, and into Wilson Street. (Nothing to do with sport, but do notice on that stretch the old privies, possibly now used as tool sheds or, who knows? At Blanchland similar ones have a preservation order on them!) At the corner with Birch Road, look right on the opposite side to where the Barnard Castle Rugby Club is situated. This is where the players and supporters exercise their arms! Cross the road to follow the left side of Birch Road down to Newgate and turn left to return to the Bowes Museum and the end of the walk.