Stanhope (County Durham)

Stanhope is a small market town of 1,600 people (2019) in County Durham. It lies on the River Wear between Eastgate and Frosterley, in the north-east of Weardale. Stanhope is surrounded by moorland in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Understand

Stanhope parish is the largest parish area in England, at 85 square miles (221 km²).

Get in

The main A689 road over the Pennines is crossed by the B6278 between Barnard Castle and Shotley Bridge.

See

• 1 North of England Lead Mining Museum, Cowshill DL13 1AR (Follow A689 west). Daily 11AM-5PM. Lowland Durham has the coal, but the hills have lead, in the form of "galena" or "glance": lead sulphide crystals deposited in veins through the rock. Though now we shun it as toxic, earlier times depended upon it for plumbing, weights, bullets & shot, solder and pewter. Raw galena was also used as a cosmetic and a pottery glaze. The museum at Killhope recreates Park Level Mine, active here 1853-1910. Adult £9, conc £6. (updated Jul 2018)
• A petrified tree stump standing in the churchyard was found with two others, one of which features in the Great North Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne.
• The Durham Dales Centre incorporates a tea room, tourist information and craft shops.
• Stanhope Bridge, a scheduled monument, was built in the 15th century and widened in 1792.
• The ford has a stepping-stone bridge for pedestrians.
• The 18th-century Stanhope Castle in the town centre stands on the possible site of a medieval castle. It was built in 1798 by Cuthbert Rippon, MP for Gateshead. It has been converted into apartments.

Do

• 1 Weardale Ski Club, Fendrith Hill, Stanhope DL13 1PB, ☏ +44 1388 317767. England's highest ski centre, reaching a dizzy 655 m, with runs down to 488 m, ie at best a 168 m run. Yes, this is how we skied in Edwardian times, before we discovered Europe. The season is short and conditions are highly variable - but for example in icy 2018, skiing extended into late March. Uplift is two Doppelmayer button-tows. They don't have kit hire or lessons. Day ticket £20, season pass £48. (updated Jul 2018)
• Weardale Railway. Stanhope is the terminus of this heritage line operating mainly at weekends in the summer from Bishop Auckland, with stations at Frosterley, Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear. Adult single £5.50-9.00, child 50% off. (updated Feb 2024)
• Truckfest North East celebrates heavy haulage and monster trucks, at Wolsingham Showground in June.
• Stanhope Agricultural Show is held on the second weekend of September each year. It has been held annually since 1834.

Sleep

• 1 Stanhope Old Hall, Front Street DL13 2PF (On A689), ☏ +44 1388 529036. Splendid characterful hotel in 12th-century manor house. Also does self-catering. B&B doubles from £130. (updated Jul 2018)
• 2 Westgate Manor, Westgate DL13 1JT, ☏ +44 1388 517371. Swish, small country hotel in Victorian manor house. No dogs. B&B double £130. (updated Jul 2020)

Connect

As of Jan 2024, Stanhope and A689 from the east have 4G from all UK carriers, but with variable coverage on other roads. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Loop over the moors north via Alston to explore Hadrian's Wall.
• Head east down the valley to Durham; for big city attractions, turn north to Newcastle.
• Cross the moors south to Middleton-in-Teesdale, with a stop at High Force, then to Barnard Castle with the Bowes Museum. Then either go south to Yorkshire or west to the Lake District.