Outdoors and nature

Walking

North East walking and wheeling

North East walking and wheeling is your ticket to discovering the region’s rich landscapes, heritage, and vibrant communities, and best of all you can go car-free. Thanks to the efforts of community rail, many of these walking and wheeling routes link directly with local train stations, making it easy to step off the train and straight into adventure.

Discover railway roots with Bishop Line adventures

Step back in time and explore the birthplace of the modern railway with a series of self-guided walks created by the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. These carefully curated routes follow the historic 26-mile line from Witton Park to Stockton, offering a unique way to discover railway heritage, local landscapes, and communities on foot.

Many of the walks connect with stations along the Bishop Line, making it easy to combine rail travel with exploration. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of Locomotion No.1 or uncovering hidden gems in towns like Shildon and Darlington, these walks bring history to life, one step at a time. See the routes here.

Old locomotive train units inside the Locomotion museum in Shildon

Locomotion Museum

Follow in the footsteps of Romans along the Tyne Valley Line

Explore the eastern stretch of the Hadrian’s Wall Path, where history and rail travel meet in spectacular fashion. Starting at Wallsend and heading west through Newcastle, Wylam, and Heddon-on-the-Wall, this part of the trail runs close to the Tyne Valley Railway, making it easy to combine walking with train travel.

Along the way, you’ll encounter Roman forts, riverside paths, and iconic landmarks like the River Tyne bridges and George Stephenson’s birthplace. It’s a perfect blend of heritage and scenery, offering a car-free way to experience one of England’s most historic landscapes, just hop off the train and start your journey through time.

Train travelling through lush countryside with sheep grazing in the fields nearby | Tyne Valley Railway | North East walking and wheeling

Tyne Valley Line

Teeside trail

Discover a unique blend of industrial heritage and coastal charm on this linear walk from Middlesbrough to Redcar. Starting in the heart of Middlesbrough, the route follows railways and pipelines through Teesside’s post-industrial landscape, offering a glimpse into the region’s steelmaking past. As you reach the seaside town of Redcar, the scenery shifts to fresh sea air and sweeping coastal views. For an added adventure, hop aboard the Esk Valley Railway from Middlesborough for a stunning railway journey through the North York Moors and onwards to Whitby.

Please check your route before setting off for any disruptions or path closures.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.