Weardale Way Short Walk - Pallion to Roker

This urban section of the English Coast Path passes through Pallion and Deptford, the center of shipbuilding on the Wear. There is plenty of evidence left of this industry, The route slightly deviates from the original Weardale Way route to follow the new A1231 route passing the recently reinstated Doxford Shipyard Gate.

Technical sheet

18223639
A Sunderland walk posted on 02/01/22 by sarahhcfe. Last update : 10/01/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.15 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 40 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 67 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 31 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m
  • ⚐
    District: Sunderland 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 54.912841° / W 1.416702°
  • ⚑
    End: N 54.92269° / W 1.364726°

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Description

(S) From Pallion Metro Station, exit onto Woodbine Terrace and follow the footpath to the new A1231 road. Cross the road and turn right heading to the city centre.

(1) In the construction of the new road, the old entrance to the Doxford Shipyard was demolished, the gateway has been reinstated near to where the original building stood. Continue walking along the new A1231 passing the shipyards on your left.

(2) Walk underneath the Queen Alexandra Bridge, the original Weardale Way Route will join here from the right and carry on straight ahead.

(3) The new A1231 follows the original route of Deptford Terrace. This now becomes a junction, turn left onto the original Deptford Terrace.

(4) Pass The Saltgrass and turn left onto a footpath at the side of Hanover Place, this will take you to the riverside footpath. Follow this path checking out the views of the Stadium of Light and Wearmouth Bridge.

(5) When you have passed underneath Wearmouth Bridge. Take the steep footpath to your right up to Pann's Bank then turn sharp right onto Bridge Crescent then cross Wearmouth Bridge.

(6) At the end of the bridge turn right onto Bonner's Field, then right down Palmer's Hill Road where you will see a squeeze gate to the riverside path beyond. Turn left and follow this footpath along the banks of the river.

(7) The footpath will turn up a hill on the left-hand side to a petrol station, either take the steps down to the right and walk through the car park to the riverside path or continue walking along Sand Point Road to Sunderland marina. Follow the path around the marina and then along the water ridge to reach Roker Pier (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Pallion Metro Station
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 19 m - Doxford Shipyard Archway
  3. 2 : km 1.02 - alt. 19 m - Queen Alexandra Bridge
  4. 3 : km 1.36 - alt. 23 m - A1231/Deptford Terrace Junction
  5. 4 : km 1.8 - alt. 11 m - Hanover Place/San Marino Restaurant
  6. 5 : km 2.83 - alt. 18 m - Wearmouth Bridge
  7. 6 : km 3.3 - alt. 17 m - Wearmouth Bridge/Bonner's Field
  8. 7 : km 4.75 - alt. 16 m - Petrol Station
  9. E : km 6.15 - alt. 5 m - Roker Pier

Useful Information

  • Transport: The walk starts at Pallion metro station which can be reached from Sunderland and Newcastle. There is parking at Roker at the end of the walk. From the car park, you will need to walk to either St Peter's or Stadium of Light metro stations to catch the metro to Pallion. Alternatively take bus E1 from Roker Terrace to Fawcett Street and then join the metro at Sunderland Station. There is also parking at Pallion Retail Park behind the metro station but this is limited to 3 hours.
  • Facilities: There is a Costa coffee shop at the start of the walk and cafes and toilets at Roker. You will pass The Saltgrass and Hanover Place, both of which serve food, in Deptford.
  • Accessibility: There are some slopes but these are relatively gentle and the whole walk is on paved surfaces including cycle paths. When you cross the Wearmouth Bridge there is a squeeze gate, so cross the road, pass under St Peter's Metro Station and join the riverside footpath there passing under the Wearmouth Bridge again. Please be aware that the riverside footpath can be overgrown in summer.
  • Note: The current extension of the A1231 crosses the original path along Deptford Terrace. Care needs to be taken when crossing this busy new road. I have deviated from the original route which follows Pallion New Road and then turns left down the eastern side of the Queen Alexandra Bridge on the old Deptford Terrace. You may still follow this route if you wish to the bottom of the bridge.

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

  • Doxford Shipyard Gate
  • Queen Alexandra Bridge
  • Wearmouth Bridge
  • Diversions can be made to the National Glass Centre and St Peters Church between (5) and (6).
  • Roker Pier, Seafront and Park

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

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