Stanley & Beamish
C2C - Route 7
Route Section: Consett > Sunderland
From Start: 189km (118m) | From Finish: 27km (17m)
Distances
Chester-le-Street 8km (5m)
Sunderland Centre (16m)
About Stanley & Beamish
Stanley is set on a breezy hilltop and commands a bird's eye view of the whole area. A former mining town situated between Consett and Chester-le-Street, the name comes from Anglo-Saxon and means 'stony field'. It was first mentioned in 1211 and there are Neolithic and Roman remains in the area.
Beamish is 2 miles down the street and is famous for its museum (see below). There is some good accommodation nearby, which would make for a very easy final day!
Places of Interest
Beamish Museum is England's largest open-air museum and has a working steam railway, trams, an Edwardian town centre, a demonstration col iery, a school and a working farm. The C2C route passes within yards of the entrance gate. 0191 370 4000.
Tanfield Railway : it is the oldest railway in the world that still exists. It stops at the Causey Arch north of Stanley - 50m high and a Scheduled Ancient Monument built in 1728 - and is manned by volunteers 0191 274 2002.
Jolly Drovers Maze. Built on the site of the former Eden Pit Colliery in 1989. Like the Lambton Worm (see Chester-le-Street) it was designed by Andy Goldsworthy.
Where To Sleep
Bobby Shafto Caravan Park
Run by: Andrew Peel
A 10-acre caravan and camping park just beyond the Beamish Museum and C2C route where you can camp or stay in a camping pod or simply book a caravan (NB for hire vans please bring your own linen). There's an on-site bar and pool room and facilities include a centrally heated amenity building with showers etc, plus a shop. A pretty self-contained site, but within easy distance of pubs and eateries.
Details: Tent space: 16 pitches. Touring pitches: 64 pitches (some seasonal)
Caravans: 5 hire vans, Pods: 3 Prices: from £11pp for backpackers/cyclists (£13 high season). Tent with 2 or more people or motorcar, touring caravan or campervan: £22 (£27 high season). Pods: £37.50 (£42.50 high season) can be booked for 1 night or more. Caravans for hire: from £42 per night per caravan - minimum booking is 3 nights. Those booking online should quote reference: C2C15.
Tent space: 16 pitches. Touring piches: 64 (some seasonal).
Caravans: 5 hire vans.
Pods : 3. £37.50 (£42.50 high season)
Prices: from £11pp for cyclists/backpackers (£13 high season).
Tent with 2 or more people or
motorcar ,
touring
caravan or
campervan : £22 (£27 high season). Pods can be booked for 1 night or more.
Caravans for hire: from £42 per night per caravan - minimum booking is 3 nights.
Those booking online should quote reference: C2C15.
telephone : 0191 370 1776
South Causey Inn
Run by: Susan & Philip Moiser
Rooms: 29.
B&B: from £42pppn.
Eve meal: yes - bar snacks to full à la carte.
Pk lunch: full picnics available. Secure cycle
storage and
drying facilities.
address : Beamish Burn Rd, Stanley, Co Durham DH9 0LS
telephone : 01207 235555
email: southcausey@hotmail.com
Beamish Mary Inn
Run by: Sally Crowther
Splendid old-fashioned pub with lots of quirky charm, now famous thanks to the TV series George Gently (Martin Shaw), it's a perfect last night watering-hole and ideal for small groups. Great beers (8 real ales). And a 3-course meal for only £14.95. It is such a delight to see a perfectly preserved old inn that time has somehow passed by.
B&B : from £22.50 (if sharing family room) to £35.
Rooms : 1D, 1T/D, 1F (sleeps 4).
Eve
meal : £14.95 for 3-courses.
Pk
lunch : pse pre-order.
Secure cycle storage and
drying facilities.
address : No Place, Stanley, Durham DH9 0QH
telephone : 0191 370 0237
email: info@beamishmaryinn.co.uk
Hotel 52
Run by: Duty Manager
Newly refurbished 23 bedroom hotel in the centre of Stanley, ideal for groups, close to the Beamish Museum and close to the route. Each smart new room is en-suite facilities and they boast "very comfortable" beds. With options of double/twin, double apartments, triple and family apartment suites, 52 can cater for most group sizes. Each of the apartments includes a fully equipped fitted kitchen. Single occupancy rates are offered for the spacious double rooms. Breakfast is a feature and wifi is freely available. "We are keen to attract cyclists and will look after them properly," says a member of the 52 team. Secure lock-up for bikes.
Rooms : 23 D/T/Tpl plus apartments.
B&B : from £30pp for 2 sharing. See website for deals.
Eve meal : 2 meals and 2 drinks for £20. Again, see website.
Pk lunch : on request.