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Winston and Old Richmond Co Durham

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 3 hours

Length 10.5km / 6.5mi

Route developer: durrambl

Route checker: Thomas Phillips

Start location Winston Village, Co Durham
Route Summary A pleasant leisurely walk from the pretty village of Winston, along the banks of the river Tees to the deserted village of Old Richmond, returning along quiet roads
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

There is a bus service to Winston from Darlington and Barnard Castle

Description

[1] From the lay by head west for the Bridgewater Arms and turn left towards Winston village.  After 200m, turn left up Church Mews to the gate to the churchyard.(Alternative 20 yards to the west of the lay by go over a stile on the left and follow the path across a field to a stile. Go over and cross farm access road and over another style keep the wall on your left and go through a gate into the churchyard and follow path to church gate and turn sharp left to rejoin original route) 

(A). Winston church was built in the 13th century but possibly has Anglo Saxon origins.  Parts of it were renovated in Victorian times.

Turn right through a gate and go along a path with the churchyard on your left.  Follow this path as it goes steeply downhill turning right to a gate into a wooded area on your left.  Go through this and follow a boardwalk to reach the riverside path.

[2] Turn right and follow the path up to the road.  Turn left and cross Winston Bridge over the river. Turn left on a signed path and follow this across a field with the wooded riverbanks on your left.  Go past 2 properties and continue parallel with the river for 1km.  

(B).  Winston bridge is a single arch bridge built by Sir Thomas Robinson, of Rokeby Park, in 1762/3.  At the time it was the longest bridge of its kind in the world.  It replaced a medieval bridge at the same spot.  During the film, Battle of Britain, a Spitfire flew underneath the arch.

(C.) Over to the left is the embankment and bridge of the Darlington, Barnard Castle and Tebay railway which was closed in the 1960s.

[3] Where a field gate is straight ahead, follow the track to the right and go through the next gate on the left.  Go through the fields with the field boundary on your right and exit through a gate onto a track at Barforth Hall and its surrounding properties. 

(D)  Barforth Hall is a 15th-16th century manor house.  It was originally owned by the Pudsey family who came into possession of the estate in the time of Edward 111. It is now owned by the Earl of Harewood.

(E). This is a mediaeval bridge.  Note the fine arching.

Turn right and follow the track until it reaches the ruins of St Lawrence's chapel

(F).  St Lawrence's chapel was built in the 12th century and was desecrated during the reformation in the 16th century.  It was converted into a dwelling for a priest who remained to minister to the local people.

(G)  The remains of a medieval dovecote.

(H) This is the location of the deserted medieval village of Old Richmond.  It was the also the site of a Roman signal station.

[4] Follow the track around to the left  for 600m until a T junction is reached. Turn right along the road (Boat Lane) to its end.

 [5] Turn right along Pudding Hill Lane for 1.5km until the B6274 is reached. Turn right and follow this road back across Winston Bridge and continue up the hill to Winston village.

(I) The earth covered structure on Pudding Hill is a Northumbrian Water covered treated water reservoir.

[6] Turn right at the T junction and follow the road back to your start.
POI information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
  • R.Tees from Winston Bridge (out)
    R.Tees from Winston Bridge (out)
    By - Jean Young
  • St. Lawrence
    St. Lawrence's chapel, Old Richmond
    By - Jean Young
  • Mediaeval bridge, Old Richmond
    Mediaeval bridge, Old Richmond
    By - Jean Young
  • Dramatic Skies
    Dramatic Skies
    By - Jean Young
  • Winston Church
    Winston Church
    By - Jean Young
  • R.Tees from Winston Bridge (back)
    R.Tees from Winston Bridge (back)
    By - Jean Young
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