Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2025-10-02 10:30 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
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: Pease and Backhouse - the families who brought the S&DR to life
2025-10-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
WALK FULL
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.
1.5 miles (2 km), 1 hour 30 mins. 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)
2025-10-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
WALK FULL
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: Circular Walk around Shildon
2025-11-05 10:40 - 13:00 | Locomotion, Shildon, Dale Road, Shildon, DL4 2RE, United Kingdom
Approx 5.8miles, easy going, 1 stile, dog friendly,
sturdy boots
Refreshments at the former Wagon Works Canteen
For more details contact jraw2883@aol.com
If wet the

Litter Pick at St. Helen Auckland
2026-02-25 10:25 - 12:30 | Stationmaster’s House, West Auckland, DL14 9EX, United Kingdom
Join the Friends for a litter pick along the S&DR. Meeting in front of the former station house in St Helen Auckland at 10:25. Sturdy footwear is recommended. Litter Pickers and bags can be provided, but bring your own if you wish. Email John Raw at jraw2883@aol.com to register for the litter pick.

Celebrating SDR at Heighington
2026-03-07 13:30 - 16:30 | St Michaels Church, Heighington, DL5 6PN, Church View, Heighington, DL5 6PP, United Kingdom
We have a fabulous event coming up on 7th March 2026 with some amazing speakers. Proceeds will support our fundraising efforts to make the magic happen with the old Locomotion pub and bring it back to life again.
Please join us, get your tickets, share the post, sponsor the event… whatever works for you, works for us.
Looking forward to seeing some old friends and making some new ones. Tickets only £6

Meeting of Heighington & Aycliffe Interest Group (H.A.I.G)
2026-03-20 11:00 - 12:30 | NC Group, Unit 3&4, Parsons Court, Welbury Way,, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 6ZE, United Kingdom
HAIG Agenda 20.03.26
Any new members or interested persons wishing to join the meeting please contact below:
jonathan.ratcliffe@sdr1825.org.uk

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2026-04-06 10:30 - 13:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 2 hours. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 15. 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 was 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 entry).
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:
