Walk, Barnard Castle Bridges

Barnard Castle, June 2012. Approximately 1.3 mile or 2.1 kilometres

A short walk but with a couple of steep climbs, one up and one down and plenty of opertunitys for shoping eating and drinking.

You can start this circular route at several places along the way but I will start at the lay-by below the castle on Bridgegate, near the road bridge. Starting here alows you to cross all three bridges without going back on youself. Cross over the river Tees via Barnard Castle Bridge built in 1569, and turn left onto The Still, following the river.

Remenber to look back as you go, for some great views of the castle, bridge and river.

Continue alongside the river until you come to a public footpath and farm gate on the left, then follow the footpath to a footbridge over the river. This is the second of the three bridges you will cross, Startforth Footbridge built in 1881.

The walk now heads away from the river along The Bank, with old buildings on both sides of the street. About halfway along The Bank it starts to get a bit steep (hence the name of the street) but not too bad and there are antique shops to stop and look at for a rest. At the top of the bank is the Market Cross, which through it's life has been, a court, a gaol, the Town Hall and the buttermarket.

After Market Cross, are the majority of the shops on Market Place and Horse Market. On the left at the end of Horse Market is Barnard Castle Methodist Church, turn left here. The path splits at a green, take the right hand fork and head down the hill.
Note, the entrance to the Castle is on the left hand fork and also if you wanted to, keeping to the left is a shortcut path back down to the start of the walk.

Keep on down the path until you come to the river and continue to Deepdale Aqueduct and Footbridge built in 1893, where you cross back over the river once again. The views of the castle from the bridge are fantastic and are worth a sit in the middle for a few minuets rest.

Off the bridge, back at the road turn left onto Lartington Lane, follow the road back to Barnard Castle Bridge where you cross over back to the starting point.