The England - Lakes - Tyne Tees Taster - Mini Venture

Day 1 - From Stockton To Infinity

A pleasant 2 mile walk to stretch your legs alongside the River Tees. Starts by calling at the Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve for a bit of bird spotting. Takes a tour around the Tees White Water Course (walking, rather than kayaking). Crosses the impressive Tees Barrage. Provides a pleasant stroll along the banks of the River Tees next to part of the University of Durham’s campus. Crosses the visually pleasing Infinity Bridge. 

Day 2 - Teesside Walk Like No Other

This really is a walk like no other. It takes a tour of the Teesside industrial heartland, following the River Tees from Redcar to Thornaby. You’ll pass more pipes, chimneys, railway lines, massive storage tanks, cranes, bridges, excavators, lorries, slag heaps and rubbish that you’ve ever seen in your life. It is a fascinating journey through an industrial landscape. Witness the redevelopment of Teesside at the massive Teesport project.  Visit the Transport and Newport Bridges. Not a walk for those that only want hay meadows and babbling becks. Having said that, it does pass through two nature reserves. 

Day 3 - Hartlepool Royal Navy Museum

A Royal Navy Museum modelled around a 19th century quayside. The centerpiece is the renovated HMS Trincomalee, a 19th century frigate that was built in India. Tour its many decks and wonder how the 240 crew survived in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The quayside is surrounded by mini-museums presenting an engaging view of how the ship was supported. A museum area shows items retrieved from HMS Invincible, a ship that sank near Portsmouth in 1758. The Hartlepool Museum is joined to the Royal Navy Museum and free to enter as part of the admission ticket. It is a well stocked museum showing artefacts both local and global. Both museums are well worth a tour. 

Day 4 - Seaton Carew To The Tees With Ease

An out-and-back walk between Seaton Carew and the Tees Transporter Bridge. For most of the way it follows the A184, with views of massive industrial complexes. This includes oil and gas terminals, a windfarm factory, chemical works and even a nuclear power station. Despite all this industry, most of the route passes through nature reserves where there’s abundant life. Seals can be seen at Greatham Creek and the route passes the marvellous RSPB Saltholme. A walk with plenty of contrasts. 

Day 5 - NT - Seaton Delaval Hall

Seaton Delaval Hall is one of architect John Vanburgh’s finest creations. Learn about the ‘Gay Delavals’, their farmyard bed and upside down room. Peruse some fine collections including ceramics, paintings, furniture and some relatively modern day curiosities. There’s a very  pleasant garden area to walk around with an Italian Parterre and some eye-boggling mirror installations. 

Day 6 - Final Return To Barry's Blyth

A short out-and-back walk from the coastal village of Cambois to the A189 bridge over the River Blyth. It includes a variety of walking including coastal, street, riverside, as well as some field-hopping. See the £10 billion development of a computing data centre complex at Cambois. There’s plenty of birdlife to peruse along the River Blyth.