Walks near Hartlepool by train

Cleveland Way cliffs from Saltburn over Warsett Hill, with ironstone-mine remains and a charm-bracelet sculpture above the sea.

Huntcliff: A high coastal cliff east of Saltburn bearing the remains of a Victorian ironstone-mine fanhouse, on the Cleveland Way and England Coast Path.

The Cleveland Way: A National Trail that here follows the cliff-top coastline east of Saltburn, also signed as the England Coast Path.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: The Ship pub on the Saltburn seafront, early on the route.

Warnings: Cliff-top paths with steep climbs; keep dogs on leads near livestock and cliff edges.

Walk details: Northern Railway (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended: A quiet walk, separated from built-up areas, with several steep climbs and descents.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Durham Coast (National Trust)

Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: No food or drink en route after Seaham.

Warnings: Several steep climbs and descents.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Scenic for most of its length, with a choice of walking high, low, or on the beach.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: A direct town-centre-to-town-centre route, under 20% on roads with the rest flat and well-surfaced tarmac path mostly along the riverside. Passes through a semi-industrial landscape and runs close to the river.

Waterway: two thirds along the River Tees.

Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 8h (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Amazing views all the way; this gorgeous route. A gorgeous, largely traffic-free rural route reliably walkable year-round, on good ground with limited road walking on quiet lanes. Starts uphill out of Durham; the ground is mostly good but there is quite a lot of tarmac. The sections either side of Finchale Priory are briefly very steep, with a long and steep flight of steps and a footbridge over the river. Largely coincides with other waymarked routes. Finchale Priory is an English Heritage site.

Crook Hall Gardens (National Trust)

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: There is a cafe at Finchale Priory, roughly midway.

Warnings: The steps down to Finchale Priory are long and steep and can be tricky in wet weather; the quiet roads either side have no pavements and occasional fast cars.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Cracking views along the river. An urban route with a mix of green and built-up spaces, following the banks of the River Tyne and only leaving the river to skirt industrial units. Almost all tarmac or paving and accessible for wheelers and with a minor detour at a stepped railway crossing near Blaydon. A peaceful bridleway start; cracking river views. Follows the Hadrian's Wall National Trail (Hadrian's Way) and the Keelmans Way cycle path along the Tyne, rich in wildlife including the world's most inland kittiwake colony, peregrine falcon and shelduck (best at low tide). Information boards cover the history of industrial Tyneside; the 'Dunston Staiths' timber jetty is visible across the river.

Waterway: three fifths beside rivers and canals.

Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: The Italian bistro Liosi's is on the route; no toilet stops along the riverside.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk. Crossing the river at Scotswood Bridge is a little fiddly, walking beside the busy A695 traffic.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A good route making use of a riverside path and off-road sections as far as possible through otherwise urban areas and including an attractive park. Some path closures near a quarry require short detours. Passes Fulwell Quarry, which has many alternative paths.

Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 8h (6h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

Warnings: A track between roughly NZ4003 1630 and NZ4036 1628 may be blocked and impossible to walk; be prepared to divert.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Lots of lovely nature and panoramic views. A long route mixing town road-walking with field paths and farm tracks across open country, with panoramic views and lots of nature. Many field paths are poorly maintained, lost or heavily overgrown with nettles and brambles and very wet and muddy after rain. Passes under the A1 near Darlington; there is an ice cream shop at Walworth a short detour off-route.

Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Many field paths are overgrown, lost or blocked and need hacking through nettles; some require detours around farms. Parts cross or run beside the busy A6072 and A1, and the A1 underpass can flood. Tough going for adults and impractical with wheels away from the towns. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.