Winston bridge is an iconic bridge near Barforth between Barnard Castle and Darlington. It’s iconic for the time a spitfire plane flew beneath it in 1988 for a TV series.
The occasion is marked by a small plane sculpture on the bridge. Aside from the impressive history, the bridge offers stunning views from both sides over the river tees and is a feature of the Teesdale way.
A Winston Bridge Walk
The walk that we’re featuring follows some of the Teesdale way then turns around and heads back to the bridge. Other circular walks used to be a great option however they used the bridge at Wharlton, as this is temporarily being refurbished we’ve included a walk that isn’t circular. However as the scenery is so diverse although the route is one way it’s still a beautiful walk.
From the bridge head towards the Teesdale way (see map) heading in the direction of Gainford. Follow the route taking in stunning scenery of the river as you go. The path walks through some beautiful woodland and are generally quite clearly seen amongst the woodland.
Once you reach the west tees bridge at the edge of a field that heads up towards the A67 it’s best to turn around and follow the path back along the river to Winston Bridge (see map).
The total length of this walk is (2.7 Miles) and takes in some beautiful scenery as you go.
Terrain:
As the path is mostly through the woodland beside the river the trails can be muddy during the winter and are more accessible during dryer months.
Refreshments:
For refreshments there is a pub in Winston called the Bridgewater Arms, this is a great place to stop and relax after your walk.
Parking:
There is some parking near to the bridge in bays it will depend how busy the location is on the day. You may need to park in Winston and walk to the bridge.
