Free Guided Walk: The Fighting Cocks Line
2026-08-31 10:45 (Europe/London)
The Fighting Cocks Line
Middleton St George to Darlington
4.5 miles (7.5 km), 2 hours 45 mins Maximum group size 20. Mostly along off-road paths. Dogs on leads (this is a shared use route on the National Cycling Network). Moderate (level gradient but stamina required). Stout footwear recommended.
This walk follows the trackbed of an original section of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, looking at the development of railway infrastructure and the industries which grew up along the line.
The walk begins in Middleton St George village and ends at the Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction, next to North Road station in Darlington.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: West End Walk Venue TBC
2026-09-02 10:30, 2026-09-16 10:30
More information TBC

Free Guided Walk: Barnard Castle Circular Walk
2026-09-05 10:30 - 13:00 | Barnard Castle, Roman Way Picnic Site, Barnard Castle, DL12 8PW
This circular guided walk explores the story of how the S&DR transformed the picturesque market town of Barnard Castle into a Pennine railway hub. Learn about the long campaign for Barnard Castle to be connected to the railway against opposition from powerful landowners, great engineering feats and connections to disaster and war.
The walk starts and finishes outside the entrance to the castle at Roman Way Picnic Site behind Barnard Castle Methodist Church on Galgate. What 3 Words location ///flattens.large.lectured
The walk is 3.1 miles (5km) and is generally easy going with some short steep climbs from the river and will take two to three hours to complete.
Dogs welcome on leads

Free Guided Walk: Yarm Branch line from Allen’s West Station
2026-09-09 10:30 | Allen’s West Station, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0FE
Circular walk along the original S&DR Yarm Branch Line from Allen’s West Station into Yarm, returning via Yarm Road & footbridge across the original Leeds Northern Line.
Distance about 3.5 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

Meet at Allen’s West Station for 10:30am.

Free Guided Walk: Stockton Circular
2026-09-12 10:30 | Stockton Town Hall, High Street, Stockton-On-Tees, TS20 1DR
Circular walk visiting various locations connected with the S&DR in 1825, the extension of the S&DR across the River Tees in 1830 and the arrival of the Leeds Northern Railway (LNR) in 1852.
Distance about 3.5 miles
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

Meet at Stockton Town Hall at 10.30 am

Free Guided Walk: Pease and Backhouse - the families who brought the S&DR to life
2026-09-12 10:30
Pease and Backhouse – an introduction to the families who brought the Stockton and Darlington Railway to life.
Darlington Town Centre and the Quaker burial ground.
0.5 miles (1 km), 1 hour. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Very Easy.
In Darlington’s Quaker burial ground, many members of the Pease and Backhouse families are buried. These were the characters responsible for the development of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. We will explore their stories of the origins and early years of the Railway. We will meet some of these characters, and some of their interesting and colourful family members.
All of the walk takes place within Darlington town centre. There is a particular focus on the Quaker Burial ground where there are benches to sit on.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2026-09-19 10:30

Guided Walk: In the Tracks of Stephenson, Hackworth and 600 passengers in 1825 between Shildon and Heighington.
2026-09-20 10:45 - 13:00 | Shildon Station
Meet at Shildon Station (///wings.gentle.mining) to catch the 10.56am train to Heighington (do check train timetables nearer the time for last minute alterations). Arrive earlier to buy your train ticket if you haven’t bought it already online. Tickets are about £3.50 without railcards. If you arrive at Shildon by car, there is a car park at Locomotion’s west end near Station Street at ///view.rewarding.spout.
We will travel together by train along the same route taken on the opening day of the S&DR on the 27th September and arrive at Heighington Station, the world’s oldest railway station at 11.04am. We won’t be visiting the inside of the old station on this trip but there may be opportunities to do so the week after (see other SDR Festival Events). We will then walk back to Shildon, finishing at Locomotion.
The walk will be led by Caroline Hardie who has written the self-guided walk booklets for the S&DR, the children’s book Little Loco’s BIG Day, and the best-selling coffee table book, The Stockton & Darlington Railway 1825-2025.
Dogs are welcome.
The walk is just over 6km or 3.85 miles over relatively level ground, nearly all tarmacked. The duration of the walk is difficult to estimate as it will be dictated by the slowest walkers and the amount of discussion. Allow at least two hours, more if you visit Locomotion. Bring water to drink (for the dog too) and if it is sunny, then make sure you have skin protection.
Please provide your mobile phone number so you can be contacted at the last minute if timetables have to change or if trains are cancelled. Numbers will be limited to 20 (excluding dogs!)

Free Guided Walk: Allen’s West Station to Preston Park via Eaglescliffe Station.
2026-09-23 10:30 | Allen’s West Station, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0FE
A linear walk from Allen’s West Station to Preston Park via Eaglescliffe Station. Distance is about 2 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.
Meet at Allen’s West Station for 10:30am

Free Guided Walk: Eaglescliffe Station to St. John’s Crossing via Preston Park, Bowesfield Junction and 5 Bridges across the Tees.
2026-09-26 10:30 | Eaglescliffe Station
A linear walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St. John’s Crossing via Preston Park, Bowesfield Junction and the site of 1830 S&DR Suspension Bridge.
Distance about 4miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths with a short walk next to the River Tees under the A66 and 2 railway bridges.

Meet at Eaglescliffe Station for 10:30am.

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2026-09-26 10:30
Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free ticketed entry). If you would like us to book this for you, please indicate using the notes field on the registration form when registering attendees.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:
