Bishop Auckland Railway Path This was the Durham to Bishop Auckland Line built for transporting freight, mainly coal from the mines in West County Durham. Built by the NER in 1842 it was one of the railway lines expansion in the Durham County area. It opened to passengers in 1857. Closure came in 1964 and the track was removed four years later. The line was left derelict for 25 years until Durham County Council developed it as a traffic free multi- user rail Trail.The trail is almost 9 miles long and joins the Deerness Valley Way and the Lanchester Railway path. There's ample chances to join and leave the Way to use it as part of a longer journey. If travelling to/from the south end it may be beneficial to use The Weardale Way, a bridleway to the east of the Bishop Auckland Way. It follows the river and rejoins the Way a little further. You can access the minor road network at the south end of the way without travelling along A689. Parking is near both ends. Grid ref: NZ 253 414 Near Broompark just off B6302 and parking Grid ref: NZ 205 306 Parking at the south end https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_to_Bishop_Auckland_Line#Background https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4400/Railway-Path-Auckland- Way/pdf/RailwayPathAucklandWay.pdf?m=636735642536930000

Bishop Auckland Railway Path east of Hunwick © Copyright Trevor Littlewood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Bishop Auckland Way © Copyright Clive Nicholson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Bishop Auckland Way near Spennymoor © Copyright David Robinson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

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