Friends Of The Stockton & Darlington Railway

Free Guided Walk: Allen’s West Station to Preston Park via Eaglescliffe Station.
2026-08-12 10:30 (Europe/London) | 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: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2026-08-15 10:30, 2026-08-22 10:30, 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:

Free Guided Walk: West End Walk Venue TBC
2026-08-19 10:30, 2026-09-02 10:30, 2026-09-16 10:30
More information TBC

Free Guided Walk: Eaglescliffe Station to St. John’s Crossing via Preston Park, Bowesfield Junction and 5 Bridges across the Tees.
2026-08-29 10:30, 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: Pease and Backhouse - the families who brought the S&DR to life
2026-08-29 10:30, 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: The Fighting Cocks Line
2026-08-31 10:45
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: 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: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2026-09-19 10:30

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
