Shidar one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from the south, and leaving Darlington was a long road but at least you can get away from the traffic and onto the grass.
On reaching the A1 I found the underpass flooded to about six inches, but luckily I there is another tunnel just to the north.
For the next field section the path is clear, but I found it useful to follow the Newdar one which is slightly better drawn for the details of turns.
At Walworth I took a detour up the road to the excellent ice cream shop - well worth it if you have a sunny day like me (currently open 11 - 6).
At Redworth I was surprised to be taken through a fancy hotel, where a wedding garden party was in progress! The path is hard to find so you may prefer to take the road round.
The last section into Shildon was by far the worst, with long stretches of lost and overgrown paths and lots of hacking of nettles needed. This part definitely lost a star for what is otherwise a reasonable route. You might prefer to stick to the road again.
Nevertheless there was lots of lovely nature and panoramic views to enjoy, so I would just about pass this route.

I walked this from Darlington to Shildon. I don't have anything substantial to add to the previous review except my experiences. It appears things have not changed much since June apart from the addition of summer growth. The public footpaths are clearly rarely used and heavily overgrown. I did go into intrepid explorer mode a few times hacking away with my walking poles to clear away but this was not always possible. I used similar workarounds to Andy. I walked on October after rain so it was very wet underfoot with lots of mud. It's passable with care.

I walked this route in June and I think it is best characterised as too much road walking in the towns and too many poorly maintained paths across the fields. Walking this in the spring will be very different and in the winter, the road sections may be a welcome relief from the mud. So on balance it makes the SlowWays minimum standard.

The route starts at Shildon arch and heads down the side of Hardcastle Park (pic 1). During the day the park is open and walking through the park itself a nicer option. Following the road due south, a small foot bridge (pic 2) takes you over the former railway line into New Shildon. The footpath goes down the side of church, however nettles and brambles made it impossible to pass. I rerouted back to the main road and re-joined the route where it crosses the A6072 (pic 3). Take care busy road.
The next three fields all had issues of blocked paths, but it was clear everyone climbed out of the barbed wire lined path and walked along the edge of the field. Close to a small fishing lake, the route was impassable so again I rerouted back to the former A6072 which is now a lane (pic 4),the main road having been realigned and proved a safe alternative. At Red House I followed the lane back to the route, and across the road and through a stile (pic 5).

The next section was close to road but in the fields - it was easy to follow and then you drop down into Redworth (pic 6). Leaving the village you rejoin the A6072 for a few hundred metres on a safe pavement (pic 7). Then back into fields along a well used path (pic 8) up to the route's highest point. As you leave the second field turn right and after 150metres, left into what looks like someone's garden - the local council signage confirms you are on track.

The route then crosses 5 fields to the next farm, followed by a few hundred metres on a well made up track before its back in the fields again. The path to Cock Inn farm was non existent and so I followed the field boundary. This was the same south of the farm where the first field was flattened by farm vehicles (pic 9) but the second was very long meadow with no apparent path. A left turn on to a track takes you to Walworth Road, where there is 800 metres of road walking. Verges are ok for walking on in part (pic 10).

Left takes you towards Crowford Farm, where an elaborate security gate allows you access, but the path south is a tough hack through long nettles and then long grass. At Throstle Nest the right of way is blocked by farm equipment but a quick detour round the back of the barn gets you back on track. Cross the road and then a relatively easy walk across the next three fields. Right into the lane and then left at the top where a welcome pavement keeps you safe (pic 11).

The path from the lane to Low Walworth Farm is easy to follow and the farmer has kept the path well cut too. At the stile by the stream (pic 12) head left through farm buildings and once you reach the other side of the farm, the path passes an old barn and then out into the fields again. The next farm is a dairy farm and from just under a mile away there is electric fence bounded wide path that takes you towards the farm. Great in June, but I imagine is a quagmire in the winter. The well marked path guides you through Town End farm. On the other wide of the farm follow the bridle way sign as you run parallel to the A1 about 300 metres away (pic 13).

The track dog legs under the A1 and then continues next to the A1 for another 600 metres. When you hit the road, you are 4.5km from Darlington railway station and the rest of the route follows the B6279 and then A68. This was better than it might have been with good paths and some sections were set back from the road. Then it is an easy walk through the town centre to the station (pic 14).

Most of route when I walked was tough walk for an adult - children and those using wheels fid it impossible in many of sections away from the towns.

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