Durham Riverside Walk

The Durham Riverside Walk follows the wooded banks of the River Wear as it loops around the rocky peninsula holding the Cathedral and Castle. The full circuit is roughly a mile and a half, taking in Framwellgate Bridge, Prebends Bridge and Elvet Bridge, with the UNESCO World Heritage Site rising steeply above you through the trees.

The path is easy underfoot, largely level and well-surfaced, popular with locals walking dogs, students from the University's colleges along the river, and rowing crews training on the water below. From Prebends Bridge you get the classic view painted by Turner, looking upstream to the cathedral towers framed by wooded cliffs.

You can join the walk from several points in the city centre, including the Market Place, Old Elvet, or the pathway beside Durham Boat Club. Rowing boat hire is available at Brown's Boathouse near Elvet Bridge in the warmer months, and the walk links naturally with a visit to the Cathedral, Palace Green, or Wharton Park.