Here is an easy 10km (6 mile) leisure cycling route between Frosterley railway station and Stanhope stepping stones. Those who use gps cycling computers may like a route map from Ride with GPS.
Map: Copyright © MapTiler © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMapContributors
Starting at the Weardale railway station in Frosterley, turn left towards the traffic lights. These control the flow of traffic across the narrow bridge which crosses both the railway and the river Wear. There is a good delay on them to allow cyclists to clear the bridge, but there is also a footpath where you can pause and look over the parapet down into the river.
After the bridge, take the first road on the right, which is a narrow and quiet country lane that runs almost all the way to Stanhope. Apart from a little farm traffic, this road is mainly used by walkers and joggers. The road is sandwiched between the hills of Catterick moor and the river. Weaving between farm fields and through short sections of overhanging woodland, there is plenty of shade in the summer time, and in the winter the bare trees allow you to see through to the river below. If the railway is running there is an opportunity to see the Weardale train pass close to the road.
Just outside Stanhope, this little road bears right and crosses the railway before dropping down to the river again and crossing on another narrow bridge. There is a holiday caravan park here, so do watch for tourists in cars. The route then reaches the mainroad into Stanhope and the slower speed limit. There will be a lot of people in cars trying to park, and often driving up onto the pavement. There are plenty of cafes and shops to buy refreshments.
In the market square, opposite St Thomas Church, the road winds downhill to a tree lined route along the bank of the river. Walking a bicycle over the footbridge leads to a road beside the showground that very quickly ends at the stepping stones and ford over the river Wear. In warm weather the flow of the river is low enough for strong people to carry a bicycle over, and there will be families playing and paddling in the water.
At times of high water the stepping stones will be completely submerged.
There is often an ice-cream van beside the river, and for those who venture a little further along the road, there are plenty of picnic spots in the river gully.
The route back to Frosterley is the same but the view is different, for example the ‘Elephant Trees’ are visible on at the top of the hills in the distance. It is worth going a little further through the village to find the Frosterley Inn for a refreshing drink at the end of the ride.
