Lanchester Valley Railway Path
Coordinates: 54°45′58″N 1°36′47″W / 54.766°N 1.613°W The Lanchester Valley Railway Path is located in County Durham, in Northeast England.
It uses the route of the Lanchester Valley Railway, originally built by the North Eastern Railway to carry iron ore to Consett Steelworks from Middlesbrough. The single-track line opened in 1862, with stations at: Durham; Bearpark; Witton Gilbert; Lanchester; Knitsley; and Consett. Regular passenger services closed in May 1939, although occasional miners gala excursion trains continued until 1954. Goods traffic ceased in 1965 and the line was formally closed on 20 June 1966, with the tracks lifted by contractors the following year.
Durham County Council converted the former railway into the present 19.5-kilometre (12 mi) long path, suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding. At the western end of the path south of Consett, the route links with the Sea to Sea cycle route. The eastern end of the path meets up with the Walney to Wear route. There are many beautiful sites along its route, the ruins of Beaurepaire at Bearpark being one.