This walk started out at a garden centre near Edmondsley and traversed several miles of County Durham countryside, all of it new to me.

Although we were just into November, the weather was warm and sultry; no need for heavy jackets or waterproofs s the mercury nudged 20 degrees celsius. Starting out by criss-crossing the aforementioned Cong Burn within its gentle valley, the walk was predominantly a woodland one and very different from the previous walk up on the borders.

Late Autumn colours lit up the whole way – we really have enjoyed an excellent Autumn this year in terms of tree colour – and made the whole walk a total joy. The clear sunny day also gave us splendid views from the top of Waldridge Fell, over Chester-le-Street and over to Penshaw Monument in the distance.

Climbing out of the valley for a short stretch in Pelton, we picked up the old wagon ways now looked after by the excellent Sustrans, to meet up with Old King Coal, a sculpture made out of old mining equipment to remember the history of the area.

Plunging back into woodland for the final stretch, we eventually finished the walk after five miles back in the excellent nursery tea room!