Auckland Way Just under 4 miles this railway path stretches fro Bishop Auckland to Spennymoor. It was part of the railway that links up at the East Howle Junction and serve Port Clarence on Teeside built in 1881. In 1885 NER built a route from Byers Green (Spennymoor) to Bishop Auckland. The line was used by passengers and for carrying coal. Bishop Lightfoot hated the railway and only gave permission for the land of Bishop Park to be used for a railway if a double width bridge was built over the railway for his use and screened with trees so he couldn't see the bridge which is now called the Bishop's bridge. The park was a deer park that served his palace with meat, game and fish. Binchester was originally a Roman Fort on Dere Street which brought supplies to the Roman Armies in the north. The way is an attractive tree-line route with gentle gradients along it offering fine views over the Wear Valley towards the hills of the North Pennines. It is a stone based path with rough sections so boots may be required for bare footed horses. There is excellent parking off the Whitworth Road just north of Spennymoor and likewise at the Auckland end. Grid ref: NZ 227 301 New Coundon (Auckland) ParkingGrid ref: NZ 245 337 Spennymoor OS Landranger map 93 http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4400/Railway-Path---Auckland- Way/pdf/RailwayPathAucklandWay.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._Lightfo ot

Auckland Way near Spennymoor taken 13 years ago (once the Clarence Railway) © Copyright Oliver Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Auckland Way at Byers Green station © Copyright David Robinson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Auckland Walk at top end of Bell Burn Woods near Binchester © Copyright Oliver Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Auckland Way near Spennymoor © Copyright Oliver Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.