The railway was opened in 1896 and operated by the North Eastern Railway and subsequently became the London and North Eastern Railway during 1923. Consett became a boom town due to the Iron Ore and Coking Coal. Limestone was also nearby. The railway was needed to carry it to the steel works. Consett is situated high up on the edge of the Pennines. The last passenger train into Consett was in March 1984. Now part of the Sustrans network it is marked as number 7. There is no mention of horse riding being barred from the route and access as far as we can ascertain is not preventing it. There are a few interruptions in the railway track where you have to take a diversion. One is near to Crookhall and another south of Annfield Plain. It looks not to be a problem if you want to continue all the distance on the Way. The whole length of the Consett and Sunderland way is 20.63 miles. You can join the Waskerley Way and Lanchester Valley Railway Path from the Consett and Sunderland Railway Path.

Grid ref: NZ 064 444 From the Waskerley Way Grid ref: NZ 318 548 Fatfield (Sunderland)

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/consett-and- sunderland-railway-path/ https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/consett-iron-and-steel-works/