What is The Durham Round?

What is the Durham Round?

The Durham Round is a circular walk that roughly follows the edges of  County Durham, A county in the North East of England, a country in the United Kingdom. The Round starts and ends in the historic city of Durham. The route starts in the Market Place, following the River Wear and then heads East towards the coast at Seaham, following on South down the coast past Peterlee, and heading inland just North of Hartlepool. From there it heads through Stockton and around the Southern edge of Darlington, before rising North again towards Barnard Castle and heading into Weardale and the North Pennines. Heading North East to the top of county, it takes in Consett and Stanley, before heading South through Chester-Le-Street and back along the River Wear into Durham City for a total of 155 miles or 250 km.

Why is The Round Important?

The Round is important because it is one of best ways to see the rich variety of landscapes, both urban and rural in the county. There is a rich history in the County Durham of mining and industry, the round passes near and through some of these areas and allows the walker to appreciate these imposing and interesting historical locations. The round is based on a book of the same name by author Jill Delaney. I am in to process of tracing Jill to tell her how the book has inspired me to take on this challenge. The walk was recently completed by a team of individuals completing a 4 hour team relay in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, a local hospice in Durham City. I’m planning on completing the round solo. Initially I will start with stage walks to build confidence and stamina, then I aim to complete it as a whole route with wild camping over a 2 week period.