Durham City Green Corridor loop

North East

A narrow country lane between verges of lush summer vegetation in the foreground, leads towards hedgerows and trees in full leaf and a field of a bright yellow crop. Beyond, rooftops of the city's buildings sit under a cloudy but bright sky, dominated by Durham Cathedral. — Durham Cathedral, from Frankland Lane | © National Trust Images/Rebecca Hughes

A circular walk through countryside and woodland on the edge of Durham city, with the option of a shortcut. Traffic noise fades, replaced by birdsong as you leave the city behind. Enjoy views of the River Wear and Durham Cathedral along the way. Clear paths, some gentle slopes and steps.

Near to

Crook Hall Gardens

Start point

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

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Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.8 (km: 4.48)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 1.9 (km: 3.04)

Duration 45 mins to 1 hour 10 mins

Dog friendly**

*A clear trail on tarmac and hard-surfaced tracks and some pavements, with a few gentle inclines and steps.
**This is an ideal dog walk, but please be aware of cyclists, and of traffic in places where the route meets roads. Please keep dogs on a lead near livestock.

Address
Crook Hall Gardens, Frankland Lane, Sidegate, Durham, DH1 5SZ
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Directions via Google Maps
By train
Regular trains to Durham from Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool Lime Street, Plymouth, Bristol and London Kings Cross. Crook Hall Gardens is a 10 - 12 minute walk from the station; follow signs towards the city centre, then turn left along Framwelgate Waterside by the river or take a shortcut via Highgate, across Framwellgate and down Sidegate (cobbled).
By bus
Cathedral Bus 40a stops at Freeman's Place coach park, a 6 minute walk to Crook Hall Gardens via Framwelgate Waterside.
By road
From north or south, take the A690 into Durham and cross the river. Take the first exit at the next roundabout, Crook Hall Gardens is signposted via Framwelgate Waterside and Frankland Lane. It seems like you're turning left off Milburngate into a multi storey car park, that's correct. Continue past the Radisson Blu hotel, turn right at the mini roundabout and follow National Trust signage towards the entrance to Crook Hall Gardens car park, open 10am - 6pm.
Car park
Pay and display car park, 10am-6pm. Follow signs for Crook Hall Gardens, entrance next to café. (NB there is another car park next door, not National Trust). National Trust members free, please scan membership card. All other visitors £3.30 for up to 3 hours. Blue Badge spaces. Please note, our car park is for visitors to Crook Hall Gardens and café only. Alternative parking is available at Sidegate Car Park (pay and display), near the mini-roundabout between Sidegate and Frankland Lane.
Café
The Garden Gate Café (free entry) at Crook Hall Gardens serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and bakes, light lunches and ice-cream. Dog-friendly. Open daily mid-February to end October and Friday-Sunday in winter. Please check website for opening times.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Crook Hall Gardens, Durham
Stage 1
Turn left out of Crook Hall Garden car park and follow Frankland Lane. Ignore a public footpath on your left (you’ll return this way) to continue along the lane, passing the Northumbrian Water sewage treatment plant on your right. You might want to hold your nose for a few paces here, but you’ll soon be enjoying fresh country air.
Stage 2
At a fork, continue straight along the main track, following the sign for Newton Hall, Brasside and Finchale Priory. The track passes close to the River Wear on your right, before bearing left.
Kepier Hospital
Look back and across the River Weir to the historic buildings of Kepier Hospital The medieval Hospital of Saint Giles of Kepier was founded in 1112 as an almshouse “for the keeping of the poor”. Its first chapel became St Giles’ Church in Gilesgate. The original hospital was destroyed in the 1140s during a battle for the bishopric. Around 1180, the community was re-established at Kepier, with thirteen brethren caring for inmates (male), travellers and pilgrims. During Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, rebellion against its closure was suppressed, and in 1539 the estates passed to lay owners. Over time gardens, a mansion and a mill were added. The site is now a Scheduled Monument, with Grade I and Grade II listed buildings, the most prominent being a 14th-century gatehouse.
The buildings of Kepier Hospital, across the River Weir opposite Frankland Lane | © National Trust Images/Rebecca Hughes
Stage 3
Continue past the farm. Alternatively, for a shorter option, take a sharp left following the green sign ‘Public Footpath Durham’ with farm buildings on your right. Enjoy clear views of Durham Cathedral before the path bends right, then left, eventually re-joining Frankland Lane which leads back towards Crook Hall Gardens.
Yellowhammers
Look and listen out for yellowhammers. Rapidly declining in the UK due to loss of food and nesting habitat, it’s becoming an increasingly rare sight. You might spot a male with his bright gorse-yellow head and brown streaked back perching on a hedge. The yellowhammer’s distinctive call is said to sound like ‘a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese’; we think it also sounds as if it’s frantically pumping itself up, then deflating.
Male yellowhammers sing from the top of a hedge or bush | © National Trust Images/Derek Hatton
Stage 4
Take the next left, following the sign for Newton Hall. Continue past the entrance to Low Newton Junction Nature Reserve on your right. Follow the path left to cross a bridge over the railway line.
Stage 5
Continue straight ahead, with a grassy area on your right and houses on your left. At the junction with a road, turn left.
Stage 6
Turn left onto Lindisfarne Road, following the road as it bears right.
Stage 7
Turn left to leave Lindisfarne Road on a footpath which leads you between trees. Turn left to cross a bridge back over the railway line. With the train tracks on your right, follow the footpath into woodland.
Stage 8
As the path descends out of the woods to cross a small footbridge, a clear view of Durham Cathedral opens up on your right. Continue through a small wooded area to re-join Frankland Lane. Turn right to follow the road a short distance back to Crook Hall Gardens.
End point
Crook Hall Gardens Grid ref: NZ274430
Trail map
Crown Copyright and database right 2026 Ordnance Survey AC0000825588 | © Crown Copyright and database right 2026 Ordnance Survey AC0000825588
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Get in touch

Frankland Lane, Sidegate, Durham, DH1 5SZ

01913831832

crookhallgardens@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Near to

Start point

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Trail information

Difficulty*

Full trail

Short trail

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Trail route

Total stages: 8

Total stages: 8

Start point

Stage 1

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Point of interest

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Stage 8

End point

Trail map

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