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River Wear Trail
Route facts
Waterways:
River Wear »
Distance: 9.94 miles / 16 km
Duration: 1 day
Difficulty: Energetic
Starts at: Fatfield, Sunderland, by the riverside pub
Ends at: Roker Pier, at the mouth of the river at Sunderland
This walk takes you through the wonders of nature to the heritage of Sunderland's River Wear.
The walk follows both sides of the Wear from Fatfield at the heart of the Great North Forest to the sea. The Trail is linked to a network of paths, cycleways and bridleways, including the Stephenson Trail, C2C Cycle Route and the Weardale Way.
Go along one side, criss-cross over, or go up one side and back down the other - the choice is yours.
The route starts at Worm Hill and passes the beautiful towering arches of Victoria Viaduct, modelled on a Roman bridge at Alcantara in Spain.
On the south side of the river you can visit the Penshaw Monument based on a Greek temple in Athens and see some fantastic views of the Wear Valley and beyond. Further along on the north side is the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Washington - full of numerous species of birds and well worth a visit.
Continue on the south side past oak and ash woodlands and pass by Claxheugh Rock - a fossil-rich limestone and sandstone cliff formed in the days before the dinosaurs ruled the earth. At this point on the south side the path moves away from the river to follow the B1405.
A little further on you'll see the strange 'Cretehauser' breakwater and you'll pass the Timber Beach Nature Reserve on the north side - one of the largest remaining stretches of saltmarsh in the north-west. Up ahead is the lovely Queen Alexandra Bridge.
From here the river wends its way past Monkwearmouth Bridge and St. Peter's Riverside on the south side with its array of stone and metal sculptures. And just before the marina on the north side is the National Glass Centre where you can look in to 1300 years of glass making on Wearside.
A short distance ahead is the lighthouse at the end of Roker Pier, and the end of your journey.
Getting there
Parking: Parking is available at James Steel Park, near Cox Green, at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Washington, at North and South Hylton, at the Ropery and at a number of places near the marina.
Public transport: Sunderland is easily accessible from all major routes in England (and Scotland).
