Parkhead Station Railway Path - Pushchair Friendly Walk & Cafe

Today our writer Gaia is sharing a flat, pushchair friendly walk with stunning views and a lovely tea room. This post was published and last updated in April 2022.

5 Reasons to Visit Parkhead Station Railway Path

• Free car park
• Flat and accessible walk suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and little legs
• Stunning views
• Lovely tearoom
• Perfect for a family bike ride

Parkhead Station Railway Path - Waskerley Way Railway Path

There is a free car park (the short access drive from the main road is full of pot holes, watch out!). No public transport routes stop here unfortunately but there are other parts of the Waskerley Way that do.

No public transport routes stop here unfortunately but there are other parts of the Waskerley Way that do.
Accessibility - this railway path is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies and the cafe is step-free with an accessible toilet. You can find a detailed map here. Address: Parkhead Station House, Stanhope, Bishop Auckland DL13 2ES

There is a free car park (the short access drive from the main road is full of pot holes, watch out!).

The Waskerley Way 

Waskerley Way is a walking and cycling route built on a former railway line which runs from Parkhead station to Lydgetts junction near Consett, crossing over the impressive Hownsgill Viaduct on the 9.7 mile route.

It’s a very scenic trail and we do little chunks of it that the kids can manage. You can see sheep farms, reservoirs, heather moorland and much more. It’s a great place to walk the dog or practise cycling (as long as you watch out for speedy cyclists!)

It’s a lovely drive up to Pathhead through the North Pennine Moors spotting sheep roaming free all around. It’s so high up that in the winter there is often snow here, and it feels like Narnia.

Look out for typical moorland birds such as red grouse who you can often spot up there. It’s a good place to get some fresh air and enjoy the views, there’s no playpark or anything though - this is just a good old fashioned walk.

If you want to make a stop at a play park afterwards there is a great one a short drive away - Derwent Reservoir Waterside Park. 

Parkhead Station to Derwent Waterside Park 

Derwent Waterside Park is a 10 minute drive from this walk 

It’s also worth mentioning that Parkhead is one of the darkest places in the North Pennines and therefore one of the best places to stargaze in England, if you fancy an evening visit.

You could pack up flasks of hot chocolate and sandwiches and get cosy with blankets in the boot of the car to see the stars - one for the bucket list!

There are some benches dotted about to sit on and eat lunch at Parkhead but no picnic tables. 

Parkhead Station Tearoom and B&B

We stopped for lunch at the Parkhead tearoom (just next to the car park). The adults ordered scampi, peas and chips (£10.95) and a hot beef and gravy sandwich on gluten free bread which also came with chips and peas (£9.95). They had a good approach to dietary requirements with some good vegan meals on offer and gluten free cake and bread available.

We were happy with the quality and portion sizes and staff were very friendly. Kids meals are normally £5.95 for 2 courses and a drink, and our 4 & 7 year old thoroughly enjoyed their fish dippers/pizza and chips with beans. Leon gave it 9 out of 10 and Ada gave it 8 thumbs up.

The icecream and monkey blood went down well too! 

Dogs aren’t allowed inside the tearoom but there is outdoor seating including a wooden chalet if you’ve brought your pooch.

Lots of cyclists make a pit stop here for a bacon butty or cream tea as it’s part of the coast to coast cycle route.

As this is the former station masters house which was restored from a derelict building in 2000 there is railway memorabilia to spot inside the tearoom including the station masters luncheon box, and there’s a log burner which was keeping the place cosy when we visited. 

An accessible toilet is available for customers of the tearooms. 

Parkhead is a lovely spot up in the hills if you want to get some fresh air, we love to go there and can’t wait to explore the rest of the Waskerley Way too.

Looking for more posts like this? Check out the following:

• Derwent Waterside Park Review (just a 10 minute drive from this location)
• 13 pushchair friendly walks around North East England
• 10 family walks with a playground and cafe 
• 15 walking and cycling routes around North East England
• 30 of the best cycle routes for kids
  
  

Parkhead Station Railway Path FAQs

1. Can I have the car park postcode?
   DL13 2ES
   
   
2. When is the cafe open?
    Please check their Facebook page here for up to date information
   
   
3. Are there toilets?
    There are customer toilets in the tea room
   
   
4. Is the walk suitable for pushchairs?
    Yes, this section flat and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The only thing to watch out for is potholes in the car park.
   
   
5. Does the cafe cater for dietery requirements?
    Yes, vegan and GF meals and bread are available
   
   
6. Is this place dog friendly?
    Yes, dogs are welcome but please keep on a lead near livestock. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas only at the tea room.
   
   
7. What is there to do nearby?
    You could combine with a visit Derwent Waterside Park or Hamsterley Forest.
   
   
8. Can I visit via public transport?
    This section is not directly accessible by public transport but other areas of the walk are (and you could walk/cycle)
   
   
9. Do you have a walking route map?
    Yes, you can find one here.

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