[1] Turn right out of the Durham Dales Centre along the pavement passing the Fire Station.
[2] Just before Stanhope Town Hall cross the main road and continue in the same direction.
Take care when crossing the road.
[3] Continue around the bend to the left and down hill, and just after the Grey Bull Pub on the right, turn left down the pavement towards the river.
[4] Pass the entrance of the Stanhope Swimming Baths and turn immediately left down a tarmac footpath with the baths on the left and a park on the right.
Stanhope offers one of only two heated open air swimming pools in the North East. You can engage in water sports there. In the summer, much sporting activities are outside close to the Riverside, e.g. walking, cycling. A popular location for outdoor activities is the Ford at Stanhope. The stepping stones enable walkers to cross the river without getting their feet wet.
[5] Continue on the path with the river now on the right until you reach a footbridge over the river. Cross the footbridge, turn left and proceed to the end of the farm road.
[6] Go through a metal gate where a notice states “Private Property, please keep to footpath”. Follow the footpath straight ahead, keeping the fence on the right up to the railway.
Take care on the grassy areas ahead which may be muddy or wet after rain.
[7] Go under the railway on an underpass; continue with the fence on the right. At the end of the fence, turn sharp right and proceed with a wall on the right.
[8] Go through the facing gate, bear left up a hill on a footpath, and continue through a wood on a stony path with the river down a slope on the left.
Take care on the uneven path.
[9] At the end of the wood, go through a gate, cross a stream and proceed right through the Heather View caravan park keeping to the caravan park road.
[10] Exit from the caravan park, turn left onto the road, cross the railway and river bridges, and turn left over a stile into a field where there is a footpath sign.
Take care along the roadside which has a narrow pavement.
[11] Go across the field and through a kissing gate and continue on a path with a fence on the right. Take care on the grassy areas ahead which may be muddy or wet after rain.
[12] Cross the railway though the gates and continue across the middle of the next sports field to a kissing gate.
Take notice of the warning signs at the railway crossing.
[13] Continue straight on through the next two fields and cross the railway again through two kissing gates.
[14] Go straight along the road and turn right at the end. Take care along the roads which are narrow and have narrow or no pavements.
[15] Continue up the road towards the Market Square. Cross the street in front of St Thomas Church and turn into Church Lane which is right to the church.
[16] Walk up Church Lane until you reach High Street. Turn left and follow the street which will continue as Chapel Street. Follow it until you can see allotments on your right. Turn right into a public footpath immediately behind the allotments and before a low wall.
[17] Follow this footpath. You will go through a kissing gate and after a distance, you will come across another footpath. Turn left here and follow the grassy path. You will have to go through another gate. Keep on walking!
[18] There will be a stile on your left. Go over it and continue to walk past a house on your right. Bear right up the public footpath to reach the main road. Cross the road as the pavement is on the right hand side.
[19] Turn left and follow the road back into the town centre. Follow the road for a distance. At the end, you will reach the Grey Bull on your left.
[20] Turn left and follow the main street back into Stanhope and the Durham Dales Centre. Stay on the left hand side pavement. You will pass the Town Hall and Fire Station before you will get back to your starting point.
A famous sportsman in Stanhope; Dutch international footballer George Boateng lived in Stanhope when he played for Middlesbrough. He helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup and played in the 2006 UEFA Cup final.