Guided walks are a great way to get out and about, enjoy our wonderful county, and have some exercise in the company of like-minded people. Here are the walks available this month, April 2019.

Each month, a whole programme of County Durham walks is available, catering to a wide range of fitness levels and interests. Each walk focuses on a different subject, be it local heritage, photography, art, or simply getting your heart going on a long trek. And with the Easter school holidays taking place this month, it could be a good way to keep the family entertained.

Take a look below and see what walks you fancy in April 2019.

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Information for each guided walk

Each of the walks below gives an indication of the general theme of the guided walk such as local history, photography or exercise, as well as how far it is, how long it's expected to take and what the terrain will be like. The postcode is for rough reference as in remote areas it probably won't give the exact spot.

All walks are circular unless otherwise stated.

The walks are run by Durham County Council. The cost for each walk is £4 per person aged 16 or over and free for under 16s. Carers accompanying a disabled person can take part for free. Booking isn't required so just turn up; however, if the weather seems bad it might be worth contacting Durham County Council's Countryside Service on 03000 264 589 to check that the walk is going ahead.

Read next: Find out what's on in our county on our page for Durham events. For more Easter events head to our Durham Easter events page, and for ways to keep the children happy while they're off school, check out the Durham school holidays page.

Forgotten railways around Shildon, Wednesday April 3

This five hour, eight mile walk starts at 10am. It's led by Derek Newby and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness. It includes a tour of Locomotion Museum at Shildon.

Meet outside Shildon Locomotion Museum off Dale Road, Shildon, DL4 2RE. The grid reference is 239255 and the OS maps are Lr93 and Ex305. Take a packed lunch. Walking boots are essential.

Three Villages, Friday April 5

This walk focuses on health and local history. It starts at 10am, takes four hours and is 7.5 miles, led by Dianne Hannaby. The starting point is Sunderland Bridge, Croxdale off the B6300. The postcode is DH6 5JL and the grid reference is 265377. The OS map you need is Ex305. Take a packed lunch. It's suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness, and walking boots are essential.

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Waldridge Fell and No Place, Saturday April 6

This walk is all about views and exercise, and is suitable for people with a good level of fitness. Walking boots are essential. It starts at 10am and is 10 miles, which should last five hours. It's led by Steve Shippen. The starting point is Waldridge Fell, in the first car park on the left coming from Waldridge Village. The postcode is DH2 3RY, grid reference 252498 and the OS map is Ex308. Take a packed lunch.

Brasside and Back: Colliery Relics and Spring Flowers, Sunday April 7

Love nature, geology and local history? This six mile walk is for you. It's suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness, and walking boots are needed. It starts at 11am and lasts about five and a half hours, led by John Burgess. Meet at Clayport library, Millennium Square, Durham. The postcode is DH1 1WA, grid reference 274426. The relevant OS maps are Lr88 and Ex308. Take a packed lunch.

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Panoramic views of South West Durham: Redworth and Brussleton, Wednesday April 10

This walk is led by Derek Newby and covers eight miles in about five hours. It focuses on geology and local history. It's suitable for people with a good level of fitness, and walking boots are essential. Meet at 10am outside Locomotion Railway Museum, off Redworth Road, Shildon. The postcode is DL4 1PQ and the grid reference is 231256. The relevant OS maps are Lr93 and Ex308. Take a packed lunch.

Off to a Winning Start, Friday April 12

This walk led by Jo Davies is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness, and the themes are local history, fitness and good views. It covers eight miles in four and a half hours. Meet at 10.30am in the car park behind the Co-op, Newhouse Road, Esh Winning, on the B6302. The postcode is DH7 9HA, grid reference 190416. The OS maps are Ex307 and Ex308. Take walking boots and a packed lunch.

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Historic places along the River Wear: Bishop Auckland to Witton Le Wear, Saturday April 13

Derek Newby leads this walk, which covers seven miles in four and a half hours and focuses on nature and local history. It starts at 10am outside Escomb Saxon Church, Escomb Green, Escomb, postcode DL14 7SY. The grid reference is 189302 and the relevant OS map is Ex305. Take a packed lunch. Also, refreshments are available at Low Barns Nature Reserve Tearoom. It's suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness, and walking boots are needed.

Ouston Circular and Clarty Lane New, Sunday April 14

This new walk on the lineup starts at 10am, and covers 11 miles in six hours. It's led by David Mitchell and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed) - the theme is views and fitness. Meet at 10am in the car park next to St Benet's RC Primary School, Ouston Lane, Chester le Street. The postcode is DH2 1QT, grid reference 256540. The relevant OS maps are Ex308 and Lr88. Take a packed lunch.

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Photography walk: Shiver Me Timbers!, Tuesday April 16

Take your camera along for this walk, which covers two miles and should last for two hours. It's suitable for most levels of fitness, and stout shoes are needed. It's led by Philip Nixon and starts at 10am. Meet at East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre, Seaham, postcode SR7 7EE. The grid reference is 433495 and the relevant OS maps are Lr88 and Ex308.

Sunderland Bridge and Croxdale, Tuesday April 16

This local heritage walk covers 7.5 miles in about four hours. It's led by David and Fiona Eltringham and starts at 11am. It's suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed). Meet at Sunderland Bridge, Croxdale, off the B6300. The postcode is DH6 5JL and the grid reference is 265377. The relevant OS map is Ex305. Take a packed lunch.

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A walk to Hamsterley Forest, Wednesday April 17

This new walk on the listings, focused on fitness and views, is led by Dianne Hannaby and covers 14 miles in seven hours. It needs a good level of fitness, and walking boots. It starts at 10am at Wolsingham Station car park, Weardale. The postcode is DL13 3BL, grid reference 075368 and the OS map is ExOL31. Take a packed lunch.

St John's Hall and the Weardale Way, Sunday April 21

The theme of this walk is local history. It covers seven miles in four hours. It's led by David Butler and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed). Meet at 10.30am on the roadside at the top of Wear Bank, Wolsingham. The postcode is DL13 3NX, grid reference 073356, and the relevant OS maps are Lr92 and ExOL31. Take a packed lunch.

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Tale of Three Viaducts, Monday April 22

This walk is about fitness, local history and nature. It covers 10.5 miles in roughly five and a half hours. It's led by Ian Gray and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed). Meet at 10am at the Post Office, Galgate, Barnard Castle. The postcode is DL12 8BE, grid reference 049166 and the OS maps are Lr92 and ExOL31. Take a packed lunch.

Holidays on the Browney, Wednesday April 24

This new walk is about fitness, local history and nature, led by Brian Lander, and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed). It starts at 10am, and covers 11 miles in about five and a half hours. It starts at Holliday Park, Stone Bridge, off the A690. The postcode is DH7 8JY, grid reference 256409, and the relevant OS map is Ex308. Take a packed lunch.

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Pennypie and the Carriers Way, Friday April 26

This walk covers nine and a half miles in five hours, and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed). It's led by Jo Davies, and focuses on fitness, good views and local history. It starts at 10am in Blanchland main car park, postcode DH8 9SS. The grid reference is 964504 and the OS maps are Ex307, OL43. Take a packed lunch.

Filling a Gap, Saturday April 27

This is a new walk on the listings, led by Dave Drinkwater, and the theme is local history. It's suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness (walking boots needed). It covers 10.5 miles and should last about five hours. It starts at 10am at Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre staff car park (refreshments are available in the cafe afterwards). There are signs from the roundabout on the B1284, from the A690 southwest of Houghton-le-Spring. The postcode is DH4 6PU and the grid reference is 325486. The relevant OS map is Ex308. Take a packed lunch.

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Explore SeaScapes - Blackhall to Crimdon, Saturday April 27

This is a free walk, and the theme is nature and local history. It starts at 2pm and should last two hours, covering three miles. It needs a good level of fitness, and walking boots are needed. It's led by Deborah Hannaby. Meet at Blackhall Rocks car park, off the Coast Road (past Station Road), Hartlepool. The postcode is TS27 4AT and the grid reference is 470388. The relevant OS maps are Lr88 and Ex308.

Photography walk: On the Trail of the White Monks, Tuesday April 30

Take your camera! This walk covers two miles in two hours and is all about photography. It's led by Philip Nixon and is suitable for most fitness levels. Take stout shoes. The walk starts at 10am at the Baybridge picnic area, half a mile west of Blanchland. The postcode is DH8 9UB, grid reference 958499, and the relevant OS maps are Lr87 and Ex307.

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