[1]From the north side of the old Sunderland Bridge, which dates back to the 14th century although the end arches were rebuilt in 1770. There was a tragedy on the bridge when a stagecoach hit a kerb and 2 people were thrown over the parapet to their deaths.
Go along the track, signposted Weardale Way, and under the railway viaduct. At the end of the field on the left after the viaduct, go through a wooden kissing gate on the left and follow the riverside footpath for 3km to the bridge at Page Bank. (A)Page Bank is a former colliery site and used to be much larger. The old mine is still used to pump out the colliery levels. The current bridge over the river was opened by the local MP Tony Blair in 1996. It replaced a bridge that carried the wagonway from the colliery and was later also used as a road bridge.
[2]Turn left over the bridge and follow the road for 1 km and take a signed footpath on the left immediately after the entrance to Whitworth Hall hotel. (B) Whitworth Park was a manor house in 1183. The old house was burnt down and the present house dates from 1896. It is currently a hotel but this may close soon. It was the home of "Bonny" Bobby Shafto from 1730 -1796. The adjacent church also has its origins prior to 1183.Follow the footpath for 700m to reach a road on the edge of a wood.
[3]Turn left down the road for a short distance and take a narrow footpath on the right into the wood by a faded sign. Follow the footpath as it initially runs parallel with the road but then bears right and continues with a valley on the right and a field on the left. As the path starts to descend it crosses another path and then passes between ruined stone abutments . (C)The stone abutments in the wood are the remnants of the wagonway that ran down to Page Bank Colliery. As the path levels off, turn right and cross a stream by a stone culvert and follow a path as it goes gradually uphill with a stream on its left. (D) There was a mill here in 1279. The name is retained in the name of the sewage works.
Cross the first bridge over the stream, and follow the path up a flight of steps and past a metal fence on the left. Continue on the path until it bears right, and turn left onto the adjacent road, Turn right and follow the road to a junction.
[4] Turn left and when the road bears right, continue straight ahead on a signed path, and then on a farm track. Go through a facing gate and continue to the bottom of the hill.
[5] Go over a stile and down some steps (take care on these) to the riverbank. Turn right and follow the riverbank back to Sunderland Bridge.