Way of Learning

The Way of Learning is 61.04 km long with 684 m of total ascent, so it fits well as a 2 to 4 day walk rather than a single short outing. With its easy rating, many walkers split it into manageable stages between Jarrow and Durham, depending on pace and stopovers.

The Way of Learning starts in Jarrow, in South Tyneside, and runs south-west to Durham. The route is part of the Northern Saints Trails and links places associated with learning and early Christianity, beginning near St Paul’s Church and Jarrow Hall and finishing in Durham.

Key landmarks on the Way of Learning include St Paul’s Church and Jarrow Hall at the start, Sunderland’s riverside area, Penshaw Monument, Chester-le-Street, Finchale Priory, and Durham Cathedral at the finish. The route is designed around historic centers of learning and pilgrimage in North East England.

The Way of Learning is rated easy, which matches its 61.04 km distance and 684 m of elevation gain spread over a multi-day route. It is a long walk, but the climbing is modest for the mileage, making it more approachable than many hillier long-distance trails.

Yes. The route passes through or near places including Jarrow, Boldon, Sunderland, Chester-le-Street, and Durham, and these are connected by public transport. That makes the Way of Learning practical to break into shorter day walks instead of completing the full 61.04 km in one trip.

The Way of Learning is known as one of the Northern Saints Trails and follows a pilgrimage-style route from Jarrow to Durham focused on the region’s history of scholarship, faith, and invention. It draws on the legacy of the Venerable Bede and the historic monastic centers at Jarrow and Wearmouth.