[1] Go down the cul de sac, cross the A177 road and go down Strawberry Lane opposite. Where the tarmac road bears right, go straight ahead and then turn left around the field edge. Follow the field edge round to the right and go through a footpath gate. Follow the fenced path to reach a farm road. The route passes the site of the grandstand (A) for Durham Racecourse which moved here at the time of WWI.
[2] Turn right and follow the road to High Butterby farm. Turn right down a narrow waymarked path and follow it down hill to reach the river Wear. (Take care as this path can be muddy and slippery). Continue on the path up and then down steps and alongside the riverbank to reach a large beech tree where the path turns away from the river.
[3] Turn left off the main path alongside the left hand side of the field and after 100m, turn left and follow the path with the hedge on your right hand side. Follow the river until the path turns right and continue on the path towards Shincliffe Hall ahead. Keep on the path to pass the Hall on your right and go straight ahead until the access road to the Hall is reached. As an alternative, the footpath along the bottom of the wood can be followed from waypoint 3 to Shincliffe Hall and then on the access road. Go straight ahead on this road passing the Poplar Tree Nursery (B) which has has toilets and refreshments on your left to reach the public highway in Shincliffe village (C). Shincliffe village is one of the prettiest villages in Co. Durham The name derives from "haunted cliff". There are two pubs, the Seven Stars and the Rose Tree in the village.Turn right and go up the right hand pavement for 250m until there is a tarmac drive on the left of the road to St Mary's church with a public footpath sign.
[4] Take this drive and go straight ahead passing the church on your right. Cross the main road on the other side of the graveyard and take the public footpath opposite along the right hand edge of the field. Bear right on reaching the wood and continue straight ahead along the line of the old railway (D) This is the route of the first railway in Durham City which ran from Shincliffe to Sunderland. Durham City's first railway station was in Shincliffe. Emerge on a track at the far end of the wood. As a shorter alternative, continue straight past the entrance to the church to the main road by the Seven Stars Public House, turn right and follow the main road up hill back to the start.
[5] Turn sharp right and follow the track (E) which is the route of the wagonway from High Shincliffe colliery as it climbs the hill past Manor Farm. This is the route of the wagonway from High Shincliffe Colliery. 200m after the farm, bear left off the track past a description board and follow the path through the old colliery area. At the far end, turn right and follow the road to the High Street. Turn right to return to the start.