Shincliffe, Old Durham and Sherburn Hospital

Frequent bus services run from Durham City to Shincliffe

[1] From the end of Houghall Lane, cross the bridge over the river Wear to the Rose Tree PH.  Cross the main road and continue straight ahead on the opposite side on a track alongside the river keeping the river on your left.

[2] At the footbridge over the river to the Maiden castle Sports Centre, turn right across the playing field, aiming at the left edge of a hedge.  Cross the Sherburn Beck by a footbridge and continue on a path through the embankment of an old railway. (If the footbridge over the Sherburn Beck is closed continue to the top of the old railway embankment ahead, turn right, cross the beck and descend the embankment to rejoin the original route).

[3] Turn right along a track with Old Durham Gardens on your left, and continue up the hill past a property on your right.  Continue on the access road as it goes up the hill and bears right.  At a T junction, turn right on a track down the hill for 300m.

[4] Turn left along a track, and where this enters a field, turn right and follow the edge of the field, initially on the level and then down a hill to the right.  (N.B. This field can be muddy and in summer the edges may be overgrown). Follow the edge of the field alongside the Sherburn Beck and then besides the motorway embankment.

[5] Go through a tunnel under the motorway, and turn right on a path downhill to the beckside.  (NB This path can be slippery).  Continue besides the beck until it goes into a tunnel under an old railway embankment. (Note the former path under the embankment which has now been bricked up).  Climb up the embankment.  Descend on the other side,  Go through a rough field and exit onto a road.

[6] Turn right along the road, and go up a hill to a road junction at Sherburn House Hospital.  Turn right for 100m.

[7] Turn right on a marked public footpath on the edge of a field, and follow the path as it skirts the field on the right.  Bear left through the edge of a wood, and left again alongside another field edge to exit onto a road.

[8] Turn right along the road, crossing over the motorway, and as the road starts to descend, cross over and follow a track signed public footpath on your left.  Follow the track round to the right with a wood on your right.

[9] As the track starts to turn left, turn right onto a path into the wood and follow this old railway line through the wood.  At the far end bear slightly left through a field to the road.

[10] Cross the road and turn right and follow it back to the start.

(A) Shincliffe Bridge has existed from at least the 12th century but several have been washed away.  The current bridge dates from 1824.

(B) Old Durham Gardens were first laid out in the 17th century by John Heath.  During the early 1900s, the area was a popular entertainment spot and the Pineapple pub on the site was much frequented until it got shut down for riotous behaviour.

(C) Shincliffe Mill dates from 1303.  It is now a garden centre and cattery.

(D) The old railway embankment called Sherburn House Bridge had lines from Shincliffe village and Cassop Colliery crossing it.  Just before the Sherburn House road is a mediaeval bridge dating back to the 12th century.

(E) Sherburn House Hospital dates to 1131 when 65 lepers lived there.  It is now an old persons home.

(F) The old railway line ran from Shincliffe to Sunderland and was laid in 1839.  It was the first rail access to Durham.  The original station building can be seen at the edge of the village.

(G) Shincliffe is a beautiful village.  The name derives from Scinna meaning a ghost or demon .