Following work to make the route more accessible in Sunderland, we’re now making further improvements to National Cycle Network Route 7 in County Durham.
Work starts in November 2026 to provide a smoother, wider and more accessible route for everyone.
The missing link
This work, funded by Active Travel England and supported by Durham County Council, will improve the quality of the route between Stanley and Beamish. It’s one of the last remaining unbound gravel sections of an otherwise sealed asphalt surface stretching almost 20 miles (32km) between Washington and Consett.
Work is due to begin in November 2026 and will make the route more accessible to everyone, including people using wheelchairs and non-standard cycles, by providing a smooth, dry and wide surface.
The accessibility improvements over the 1.1-mile (1.8km) stretch will include:
Resurfacing the path with a sealed surface, making it suitable for all users
Widening the path to make it easier for people to share
Adding a trotting strip (surface for horse riders) along the eastern half of the route
Improving drainage with a drainage ditch and filter drain, using porous surface treatments where appropriate
Adding seating to provide rest stops for those who need them
Installing features to improve social safety on the route after dark.
One of the last unbound gravel sections on the 20-mile (32km) route between Washington and Consett.
A popular path for leisure and commuting
As well as being part of the popular C2C challenge ride, completed by an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people each year, the route is popular with dog walkers, horse riders and joggers.
It’s also well used by commuters, providing a traffic-free route to nearby industrial estates, and passes the world-famous Beamish Open Air Museum, which attracts around 800,000 visitors each year.
We will work with women to improve safety on the route. Credit: Jon Bewley
Women-led safety improvements
Following a survey on the path, we found that only 35% of users believed the route felt safe after dark. This can be a huge barrier to people choosing to walk, wheel and cycle along it. That’s why we’re looking to work with local women to decide what can be done to make it more usable outside daylight hours.
We're working with a panel of women to:
Walk the route in the evening to assess how safe it currently feels and identify areas that are particularly problematic;
Discuss, map out and prioritise potential measures to improve social safety;
Provide feedback on designs after suggestions from the group have been passed to our engineers. Measures suggested by the group will be implemented where feasible and within budget;
Walk the route after the improvements have been made on an evening in the spring to see if it feels safer.
Diversion map with key.
Closures and diversions
Work is scheduled to begin in November 2027 and take around five months to complete, subject to delays. Due to the nature of the works, closures and diversions will be in place to protect members of the public, our staff and contractors.
While the diversion we have identified is reasonably direct, it’s unfortunately not suitable for all users as it contains steps, stiles and sections where cycling is not permitted.
We encourage anyone planning to use the route to allow for any delays this may cause.
If you have any comments, queries or concerns about the project, you can get in touch with us via email.
