Horden Grasslands Local Nature Reserve Circular

This short circular walk passes the Horden Grasslands Local Nature Reserve and Passive Mine Water Treatment Plant then returns via the England Coast Path providing views out out to see.

Technical sheet

n°21654837
A Easington Colliery walk posted on 06/05/22 by sarahhcfe. Last update : 01/06/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.49 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 47 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 49 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 57 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 10 m
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Description

(S/E) From the car park, walk through the tunnel under the railway line then take the path on your right. This will cross Horden Burn, keep right and take the path which runs between the field and the railway line.

(1) When you reach the junction of the track which has come underneath the railway line, go straight on continuing to follow the edge of the field and the railway line until you reach the ponds.

(2) As you pass the ponds, pick up the path on the left (northeast) and walk around the ponds towards the clifftop. Turn left onto the England Coat Path/Durham Heritage Coastal Path.

(3) Walk along the top of the cliffs then bear right (northeast) down towards the beach. At the bottom, pick up the wider path and turn northwest.

(4) Take the path to the right which leads to the top of the cliffs, this is not well-defined, but stay on the edge of the cliffs as the will be a field to your left.

(5) When you reach the tree line of Fox Holes Dene, turn right and follow the path westerly along the top of the dene, turning right to cross back over Horden Burn and under the railway bridge back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 48 m - Grant's Houses Car Park
  2. 1 : km 1.06 - alt. 43 m - Tunnel Under Railway
  3. 2 : km 1.89 - alt. 56 m - Path Junction at Settling Pond
  4. 3 : km 2.55 - alt. 11 m - Wide footpath from beach
  5. 4 : km 2.74 - alt. 26 m - Path Junction
  6. 5 : km 3.93 - alt. 31 m - Fox Holes Dene
  7. S/E : km 4.48 - alt. 48 m - Grant's Houses Car Park

Useful Information

Transport: Parking is just off Station Road between Horden and Grant's Houses

Facilities: This is a circular walk, there are no toilets or refreshments on the route although there are toilets and cafes in Peterlee town centre.

Accessibility: This walk is over fields and rough dirt paths with a steep incline so is not fully accessible.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

Other walks in the area

Walking England Coast Path - Easington Colliery to Horden

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↔5.66 km ↗+71 m ↘-99 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Easington Colliery (County Durham)

This section of the England Coast Path/Durham Heritage Coast Path is another rural section which covers several denes creating an undulating walk along dirt footpaths.

Walking Hawthorn Dene

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Hawthorn Dene
↔5.33 km ↗+88 m ↘-86 m ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
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This is a short but interesting walk around Hawthorn Dene. In early spring look out for the carpets of snowdrops in the woods, later there will be wild garlic and bluebells.

Walking England Coast Path - Horden to Crimdon

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↔6.88 km ↗+68 m ↘-74 m ◔2h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Horden (County Durham)

This section of the England Coast Path continues down the rural areas of County Durham ending at Crimdon passing through Castle Eden Dene and Crimdon Dene finishing at a popular holiday park. There are nature reserves and rock formations to explore along with long sandy beaches and sand dunes. This section has some steep inclines and steps and is therefore not accessible.

Walking Durham Coast National Nature Reserve

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↔4.51 km ↗+62 m ↘-56 m ◔1h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Horden (County Durham)

This out and back route takes in 3 of the lesser known gills (narrow valleys) along the Durham Coast National Nature Reserve following a short stretch of the England Coast Path/Durham Heritage Coast Path providing stunning views of the coast.

Walking Denemouth to Blackhall Rocks Circular

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↔4.37 km ↗+62 m ↘-63 m ◔1h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Horden (County Durham)

This circular walk takes in a varied stretch of the Durham coastline and provides views of Denemouth viaduct and access to 2 nature reserves along a stretch of the Durham Coastal Path.

Walking Apollo Pavillion Circular from Peterlee Town Centre

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↔6.35 km ↗+38 m ↘-38 m ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Peterlee (County Durham)

This fully accessible walk starts and ends at the town centre and winds its way through residentaial areas passing Shotton Hall, Victor Pasmore's Apollo Pavillion and several parks.

Walking England Coast Path - Seaham to Easington Colliery

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↔5.34 km ↗+45 m ↘-21 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Seaham (County Durham)

This section follows the Durham Heritage Coast path along the cliff tops from Seaham to Easington Colliery. This is a rural section passing Hawthorn Dene and Beacon Hill providing stunning views out to sea and finishing with a visit to the Pit Cage Monument at Easington Colliery.

Walking Hesleden to Wingate, Way of Love

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↔5.18 km ↗+28 m ↘-16 m ◔1h 35 ▲Easy
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The Way of Love is one of the Northern Saints' Trails and begins at the historic church of St Hilda's on Hartlepool Headland and finishes at Durham Cathedral. This section connects Hesleden with Wingate, one of the larger villages in East Durham connecting the church of St Mary's in Hesleden with All Saint's in Wingate.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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