Walking the Durham World Heritage Site: A Self-Guided Route

The best way to appreciate Durham's World Heritage Site is on foot, following the loop of the River Wear that wraps around the peninsula. It is a short walk, but a rich one, and you are never far from a view worth stopping for.

Start on Palace Green

Begin on Palace Green, the open green at the top of the peninsula with Durham Cathedral on one side and Durham Castle on the other. This has been the ceremonial heart of the city for nearly a thousand years. From here the medieval streets of the North and South Bailey run down the spine of the peninsula between the great buildings and the river.

Down to Prebends Bridge

Follow the Bailey south and drop down to Prebends Bridge, built in the 1770s and deliberately placed to frame the classic view of the cathedral rising above the wooded riverbanks. A plaque on the bridge carries Sir Walter Scott's famous lines, "Grey towers of Durham... Half church of God, half castle 'gainst the Scot". It is the picture most people carry away from the city.

Around the riverbanks

From the bridge, take the wooded riverside path that runs beneath the cathedral, passing the old Fulling Mill on the west bank, where a mill has stood since the Middle Ages. The path follows the Wear around the peninsula and back towards the two historic bridges that guard the old city: Framwellgate Bridge, Durham's oldest, built in 1127, and Elvet Bridge, built in the late twelfth century and once lined with chapels and shops.

Practical notes

The full circuit is short, roughly two to three miles, and takes around an hour to ninety minutes at a gentle pace with stops. Be aware that the peninsula streets are hilly and cobbled, and the riverbank paths include some steps and unsurfaced woodland stretches, so the route is not fully step-free; sturdy footwear helps in wet weather. Take your time, and let the city reveal itself as you round each bend of the river.