[1] From the car park, turn left and walk east along the pavement of the A689. After 130m, turn left at a footpath sign and follow a rough track to a farm gate. Go through and climb straight up the steep grassy hill. At the top of the slope bear right and follow a footpath uphill with a quarry on your left. On emerging into a field, turn left and go through the field to a gate in the facing wall. On passing the gate into a lane, bear right up the lane. Where the lane bears right, go straight ahead into a field and contour across it to cross a stile. Bear right above a copse and continue towards a cottage. Pass the cottage on your left (A) The covered reservoir to the west of the cottage is a break pressure tank on the water pipeline from Burnhope reservoir to Sunderland. Go straight uphill to reach a wall stile. Cross this and turn left and after crossing a stream, go through a farm gate. In the next large field, gradually diverge from the left hand wall and reach a gate in the facing wall.
[2] Take a very faint path straight ahead which gradually becomes a grassy track contouring across the rough ground at a constant height. Where a track crosses, turn left and follow the track as it goes steeply downhill to the left. An abandoned house will come into view on the right. When it is safe to do so, turn right off the track and go over to the house. Cross a stile to the right of the house and go diagonally across two fields to reach a gap in the fence by a short section of wall. Go through this and bear left to reach a stile. Go over this and descend on a path into Shittlehope Dene. Turn left at a path junction and follow the path down the east side of the Dene as it gradually descends to the level of the stream (taking care as it may be slippery). Cross a stile into a field and follow the stream to reach a footbridge. Cross this and follow a path through the next field keeping the field boundary close on your right. Go down a narrow footpath between houses and turn left and follow the estate road to the main A689 road.
[3] Turn right along the main road for 250m and take a left turn marked Weardale Railway. Follow the road to Stanhope railway station (B). Stanhope railway station on the Weardale railway provides toilets and refreshments. Cross the railway footbridge and go straight ahead into the field on the other side of the railway to reach a kissing gate in the wall on the right next to a tree. Go through this and cross two fields to reach a railway crossing. Go over this and continue to reach a road. Turn left and at the end of the road, bear right on a footpath alongside the River Wear.
[4] Cross a footbridge over the river, and turn left and follow the road and then a footpath along the riverside. Go under a railway bridge and exit into a field over a stile. Go over the field to a stone wall and continue with this on your right to a stile and gate. Cross the stile and bear left uphill on a track which runs along the edge of the wooded river bank. Pass into a caravan park and follow the road through the site to exit onto a public road.
[5] Go straight ahead on the road for 150m and opposite a terrace of houses, turn right through a wall stile by an electric pole. Go half left up the hill following the electric line and exit the field through a farm gate. Go straight over a farm track leaving the farm on your right. Continue on a level farm track and cross another access road to the farm. Continue on the grassy track for a further 150m and then as it bears slightly left towards a solitary tree, continue straight ahead uphill to reach a stile in the wall that runs uphill from the tree. Descend through the next field on the same line to cross a beck and then proceed uphill on the same line to the top right hand corner of the field where there is a gate and stile. Pass these and keeping close to the right hand fence line, cross another stile on your right, Keep close to the right hand fence again to reach a farm track to the left of a ruined building.
[6] Turn right onto this track for a few metres and then left through a farm gate onto another farm track. At the end of the field, go straight ahead over a stile and turn sharp right into a wooded hollow. Cross another stile and go steeply uphill with field boundaries on your left and a quarry on your right. At the top of the quarry, turn very sharply left and descend to the opposite corner of the field. Cross a wall stile by a tree and follow the left hand field boundary through two fields. Exit through a stile into a narrow lane and go straight ahead in the same direction as before but with the field boundary now on your right for two fields to reach a house. Go through a field gate to reach a lane South of the house and ascend this to pass a second house. Bear left off the lane between the house and a barn and enter a field. Keep to the left hedge line and exit through a gateway. Turn right and keep the hedge line on your right. Go through the metal gate, turn left downhill and follow a fenced path down to exit on a public road after passing along a short section of an access drive. Turn left and follow the road over the river bridge, past the Black Bull pub to the A689. Turn right and return to the start.