The Graham Sports Centre Maiden Castle Durham DH1 3SE

There is public parking just off the 177 near the entrance to Houghall Gardens and The Pump House restaurant and a bus stop directly opposite Maiden Castle Sports Centre.  Buses 56, 57 and X1 go regularly to Durham. 

[1] Start at Maiden Castle Sports Centre and walk towards the River Wear with the athletics track to your right and the cricket pitch to your left.  The sports centre will be behind you.

[2] When you reach a footbridge bear left and enter the woods through a gate (there is also a gap in the fence to the left suitable for sturdy pushchairs) and walk up a footpath with a fence and the river to your right.  Take care as this footpath may be muddy. You will then pass the rugby pitches of Durham Rugby Club on your left. 

[3] Bear left when the path forks and walk away from the river through the trees. 

[4] Turn left when you reach Green Lane and walk along the road for about 20m then enter Durham City Cricket Club’s car park on your right, and turn left to join the footpath that runs parallel to the road.  Take care on the road.  You will pass the cricket club on your right. 

The first mention of city cricket in the local press reports ‘the gentlemen of the Durham and Sunderland Cricket Clubs have agreed to play a friendly game of cricket for dinner and a bottle of wine each on August 10^th 1829’.Formed in 1829 Durham City was one of the founder members of the Durham Senior Cricket League upon its creation in 1903.The First XI have been crowned champions on thirteen occasions.

[5] Cross a lane and pass Durham University Racecourse Playing Fields on your right.

[6] Bear right with the footpath at the end of the playing fields.

[7] Turn right onto the riverside path when you reach the children’s play area.  Stay on this path passing cricket pitches on your right and the Durham Cow and Bandstand on your left.

[8] Bear right with the footpath to pass Durham Amateur Rowing Club on your left. 

Durham Amateur Rowing Club was founded in 1860 and is one of the oldest in the country. Several rowers from the club have competed in European and World Championships and Tom and Diana Bishop represented Great Britain in the 1976 Olympics as did Ian Lawson in 2004.

[9] Turn left to cross Green Lane and enter the woods next to the sign for the rowing club which is about 100m after the building. Take care crossing the road. 

[10] Turn left when the path forks then bear right with the footpath to re-join the riverside path.  Stay on this path and go through the gate to return to Maiden Castle Sports Centre, passing the footbridge and the Robert Gillespie Boat House on your left.