🥾 Walking route
Old Railway Footpath
Tyne and Wear
- 📏 2.3 km · 1.4 mi
- ⛰ +81 m
- ⏱ 45 min
- 🐕 On lead
Walk stats
- Distance2.3 km · 1.4 mi
- Elevation+81 m
- Duration45 min
- DifficultyEasy
- Route typeCircular
- TerrainLevel former railway trackbed, easy underfoot
- Best seasonYear-round, especially spring and autumn
- DogsDog friendly, lead advised near village
About this walk
Starting and finishing in the village of Chopwell, this short circular follows the line of an old railway footpath through the wooded fringes of west Gateshead. At just over two kilometres, it makes for a relaxed loop of around three quarters of an hour, with a modest climb spread gently along the way.
The route heads out from Chopwell on the well-graded former trackbed, a reminder of the area's industrial and mining past when railways threaded through the Derwent valley. Trees close in on either side, giving the path a quiet, sheltered feel before it curves back towards the village at the midway point.
From there it is a straightforward return to the start in Chopwell, making this an ideal choice for a short leg-stretch, a family outing, or an easy introduction to walking in Tyne and Wear. The gentle gradients and clear surface mean you can enjoy the woodland surroundings without needing to watch every step.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route.
Waypoints along the route
2 waypoints along the way
- 1
Chopwell (start and finish)
- Start / finish
Start and finish of this circular route.
- 2
Midway: Chopwell
- Midway
The midway point of this circular route.
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).