This walk was designed to showcase an urban exploration walk of a town many of us visit for shopping and other purposes, a town we may think we know, yet a detailed lookround reveals hidden areas, contrasting styles of building, green corridors, and open spaces. I also wanted to show that in the most ordinary towns there are green spaces within easy walking distance to inspire us for exercise and mindfulness walking and so better mental health.

16 of us set off on a bright, sunny, clear but windy day from Crook Medical Centre and we walked in a complex vaguely anticlockwise direction never more than a mile from the starting point. There were good views en route from the higher parts of the town of the North Bitchburn ridge, the Toft Hill ridge and Brusselton Hill south of Bishop Auckland. After passing through a privatised council estate, we entered into a long   passage between a housing development and an industrial estate which is a lovely green route following a small stream. The autumn colours on such a beautifully bright sunny day were at their best and a delight to experience. The route then crosses the two main roads from the south and enters into a long pathway that leads to Crook Park where we stopped for lunch.

We then went down following a path through the wooded valley below the park, and followed round climbing back through the park and up eventually into the big cemetery at the top north east of Crook. This is a beautiful open green space with great views over the town and beyond. We returned to the car park via an area of tight terraced housing and a final path through scrubland.

Author - Richard E

Photo - Lina P