An autumn walk in Castle Eden Dene
10 people attending
6 places left
Join Steven and the OutdoorLads for a hike in the little visited southeast corner of County Durham.
This route explores areas now managed as nature reserves and previously the land fell within the boundaries of Blackhall Colliery.
There are great views north and south along the cliff top section with only one steeper climb.
The half way point coincides with a good Public House so a longer stop here will give time for hot food.
The second half of the walk will be a slow descent into the magnesian limestone steep sided dene with impressive tall trees towering above the footpaths and birdlife in abundance.
The trail emerges by a viaduct to reach the coastal path with excellent views as the sun sets.
Although a little over 13 miles this route enables a quicker pace with a majority of good clear paths and minor roads.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring two litres of water/ fruit squash or hot drink as there is a fair distance and we will need to keep hydrated. The walk includes one hours stop at a pub for hot food so option to get food there or bring a packed lunch to eat in the village. Recommend bringing fruit or snacks for the rest stops.