Washou one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Washou here.

I have submitted an alternative route 'Washou two' which I believe fixes the issues with this route.
I walked this route from Washington to Houghton-le-Spring apart from the very first section from the bus station to Princes Anne Park. I followed a short diversion around Asda and then past the entrance to the Leisure Centre.
I have given this route three stars because of the access issues at the beginning and the unnecessary inclusion of the streets of Fencehouses. The rest of the route however is lovely and I very much enjoyed the variety of scenery. It shows that there is much beauty in this area of county Durham.
The first section is a gentle downhill walk on tarmac paths through Princes Anne Park with some attractive woodland beside a stream. A short climb takes you out of the park and then following roads through the village of Fatfield and down to the River Wear. There are a number of pubs on the north side of the river here. Crossing the bridge you can take the more straightforward path to the right or you can follow the river bank more closely via a slightly overgrown footpath. Both of these will bring you out just before the A192 Washington Highway crosses the river. The path continues using a footpath beside the slip road then the main dual carriageway. You are separated by hedging and fencing but this section was very noisy. Thankfully the path left the road and continued through the beautiful Biddick Woods.
Exiting the woods you cross the road between Bournmoor and Shiney Row. Head left and you will see a set of steps on the right just before crossing the bridge over the currently defunct railway line. This takes you onto a footpath beside the track and then along the edge of a field. keep a lookout for a path on your left which takes you onto the next footpath. You follow that until it meets the road where you then go left following the road underneath the aforementioned railway track then continue to follow the road as it takes a right turn at the entrance to Elba Park. This next section of pavement walking takes you through the village of Fencehouses.
You leave the village via a footpath along the Moors Burn. At the time of year when we were walking it was difficult to see the burn through the dense vegetation. You then cross the burn and enter Houghton-le-Spring via the Burnside area. It is then just a bit more street walking until the route brings you to the main street and your destination.

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