Stanhope
From Rookhope you can take the exciting but demanding off-road section which climbs steeply past ruins and heads along the edge of Edmundbyers Common, leading down to the Waskerley Way either by road or across a track - the choice is yours.
The second choice is to go via Stanhope, one of Weardale's more important and historic little market towns. But if you go this way, remember that you'l be facing a swine of a climb up the B6278 to the Waskerley Way, aptly called Crawley Side.
About the area
Sleepy backwater that reaped the rail reward
Originally a Bronze Age settlement, it was a tiny village around a cobbled market square until the Stanhope & Tyne Railway was built to transport the industrial produce to Consett and Cleveland along the Waskerley Way. Before the railways, all raw materials were transported by pack horses. Teams of tough little Galloway horses would pick their way over the Pennines and then down into the valleys, the lead horse often having a bell attached to its harness to guide the following horses across the mist-cloaked moors.
Cycle Shop
The Bike Shop, Terry & Lorraine Turnbull at Mile Post 100 at the start of the Waskerley Way, 5km from Stanhope. 01388 526434.
Eating Out
The Bike Stop Stamping post & great teas. Mile post 100
Queen's Head Hotel, Front St. Good pub fare. 01388 528160
Things to do
Durham Dales Visitor Centre
Castle Gardens. Delightful café. 01388 527 650.
Fossilised tree at St Thomas's Church 350 mil ion years old, found in 1914 in an Edmundbyers mine.
St Thomas's Church 12th century origins complete with Roman altar and Saxon font.
Accommodation
| Horsley Hall, Eastgate, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL13 2LJ | |
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A warm welcome awaits you at Horsley Hall Country House, a family run hotel and set in picturesque Weardale. Only a mile or so from the route, it is on a back road loop from Rookhope to Stanhope and is a great place to celebrate your last night in style. Relax by the log fires in the lounge and Baronial Hall Restaurant. Dinner is taken in the Baronial Hall, which can seat up to 50. All food is home cooked and locally sourced, professionally produced by Liz who is a trained master chef. Luxury accommodation caters for 12 guests. All bedrooms are en-suite with both showers & baths. Licensed bar.
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Run by: Mrs Liz Curry 
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Tel : 01388 517239 |
Rooms : 3T, 2S, 2D |
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Have you stayed here? Let us know! |
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| Queens Head Hotel, 89, Front Street, Stanhope, Weardale, Co. Durham DL13 2UB | |
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A small, friendly local pub with bar and dining room, stocking good real ale. Perenially popular with C2Cers. Get your choice of takeaway from round the corner and eat it over a pint. |
Run by: John Emerson and Carol Patillo |
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tel : 01388 528160
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rooms : 4 twin months open : all year B & B : £25-30 per head packed lunch : yes secure cycle parking : yes
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Have you stayed here? Let us know! |
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| Parkhead Station, Stanhope Moor, Co. Durham DL13 2ES | |
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A warm welcome awaits from Terry & Lorraine, who worked for Sustrans for many years during the conception of the C2C route. Parkhead Station is specifically designed for cyclists and walkers and is renowned within the cycling fraternity. Good home cooked food, licensed, tranquil location, drying room, secure bicycle storage, exceptional service to accommodate individual needs. Take the opportunity to call in and meet us for a well earned break at mile point 100 in our Tea Rooms and experience it for yourself; or book into one of our comfortable rooms, all of which command great views over the North Pennines moorland. It's downhill all the way to the coast! Evening meal available for non-residents. |
Run by: Terry & Lorraine Turnbull 
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Tel : 01388 526434 |
Rooms : 2D, 3F. Tea & coffee facilities, flat screeen TV/DVD |
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Have you stayed here? Let us know! |
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| Cromer House Camping Barn, 48 Front Street, Frosterley, Co. Durham, DL13 2QS | |
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Our restored barn, in Frosterley village in beautiful Weardale, is a fully modernised self-catering bunkhouse with a well-equipped kitchen, comfortable dining area spacious wetroom and secure cycle storage. It has a large family-sized sleeping area upstairs with 4 single beds and optional fifth bed downstairs. The bunkhouse is in a quiet secure courtyard, with its own secluded garden where you can relax after a your day's cycling. It enjoys good local amenities, including a very good local Co-op supermarket, two pubs which serve food, and an excellent fish and chip shop. All are within approximately 5 minutes walk. |
Run by: Lance Davenport and Julia Knight 
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Tel: 01388 526632
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Rooms : sleeps up to 5
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Have you stayed here? Let us know! |
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| Carrs Farm, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL13 3BQ | |
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About 7 miles from the route, Carrs Farm Centre camping barn sleeps 20+ is a 17th century conversion and has panoramic views of Weardale. It is on an organic farm in the heart of the AONB with its own spring water, wind/solar power, log burning stove, rain-water butt system. Well equipped self-catering kitchen, communal lounge, ample parking, cycle store and wash facilities. Next to the Weardale Way and w2w routes, also the Pennine Way. There are 4 footpaths direct from accommodation leading onto the above routes. |
Run by: Joy Henderson 
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Tel: 01388 527373 and Mob: 07592 744 649 |
Rooms: 2X6; 1X9
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Have you stayed here? Let us know! |
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