Big Weekend April 2022

Join us for a weekend of fun and discovery 22nd-24th April
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Big Weekend Guided Walks

Hurworth Burn

Discover Brightwater Guided Walk – Hurworth Burn Reservoir 1.7m 10.30am – 11.30am and 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Hardwick

Everyday Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will be there with activities for all of the family:

  • Archaeology box – dig in and see what you discover!
  • Face painting – Take your pick of colourful faces – a wetland creature perhaps
  • Pebble painting – a wetland creature perhaps or whatever you have in mind. Place your pebble to help create the meandering river Skerne
  • Watch our short video about how a group of school children created ‘The Song of the Skerne’.
  • Vegan Tasters – Why not try one of these sweet/savoury vegan tasters – not only are they delicious but they are kinder on the planet too.
  • Birdbox making – Make a birdbox or bug hotel with the Discover Brightwater Wetland Trainees. They’ll be able to share with you what they have been learning about and the skills they are developing.
  • Sculpture trail –why not take a family activity leaflet and discover the amazing wood carved animals which inhabit the park for yourself or there are guided walks on Saturday and Sunday – See our walks schedule for times.
  • Buy your Discover Brightwater – Billy and the Ox book in the shop for £4.50
  • Guided walk/talk of Hurworth Burn Reservoir 1.7m 10.30pm and 1.30pm. Click on number …. On the map for the walk details.
  • Guided walk on Saturday and Sunday from Hardwick Park to Bishops Fen 3.9miles 10 am – 12 pm. Click on the number …. On the map for the walk details.
  • Guided walk on Saturday and Sunday of the Discover Brightwater Sculpture trail with a family activity leaflet and discover the amazing wood carved animals that inhabit the park. 1pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm.
Additional activities Friday
  • Heritage crafts – Willow weaving – Make your own miniature willow hurdle
  • Wetland Expert – Meet our wetland expert and find out how our wetlands are so interesting and important
  • Perfect your drawing skills with Liz Million – Drop into the Yurt between 10am – 2pm to perfect your drawing skills with Liz Million – author and illustrator of the Discover Brightwater book ‘Billy and the Ox’. After that, there is the Durham Ox drawing activity where you will be able to use these skills for yourself.
  • The Bubble Whisperer – Join in the fun!

Head Of Steam Museum

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Free Admissions to the museum. Come and have a go on the ride on miniature railway as part of the Big Weekend.

Visit the website here

Locomotion

  • Friday – Printing Workshop
  • Saturday – Learn all about bees and how to keep them. See the observational hive and discover how bees make honey.
  • Saturday & Sunday – Guided Walk of Locomotion and Historic Shildon. Accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs 10 am – 11 am, 12 pm – 1 pm, 2 pm – 3 pm. Click on the number …. On the map for the walk details.
  • Sunday – Tour of the museum  – 11 am and 2 pm

Visit the Locomotion Website

Big Weekend Guided Walks

Walk Number: 1   Distance: 1.7m
Website link: Hurworth Burn Reservoir Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Friday Time: 10:30am - 11:30am
Day: Friday Time: 1:30pm - 14:30pm
Day: Saturday Time: 2pm - 3pm
Day: Sunday Time: 2pm - 3pm
Start Location: Hurworth Burn reservoir. Nearest Postcode TS28 5NN

Walks Number: 2 & 3  Distance: 7.5m Combined
Website link: Barmpton and Little Ketton Walk - Discover Brightwater
Website link: Brafferton & Newton Ketton Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 1pm
Start Location: Barmpton. Nearest postcode DL1 3JG.
Turn left off Whinfield Road (A1150) near Asda, onto Whinbush Way. Turn left onto Barmpton Lane in 950, park in small layby before Stonebridge on left in 650m.

Walk Number: 4   Distance: 3.9m
Website link: Salter's Lane and Skerningham Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 2pm - 2:30pm
Start Location: On Glebe Road. Nearest postcode DL1 3DZ. From A167, take roundabout onto Salter’s Lane North, turn left in 80m onto Glebe Road. Parking available on right hand side of road and very limited at end of Glebe Road.

Walk Number: 5   Distance: 1.4m
Website link: Locomotion & Historic Shildon - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 11am / 12pm - 1pm / 2pm - 3pm
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 11am / 12pm - 1pm / 2pm - 3pm
Start Location: Locomotion National Railway Museum at Shildon, off Dale Road, DL4 2RE. From A1M, follow signs for Shildon and brown signs for Locomotion Museum.

Walk Number: 6   Distance: 3m
Website link: Bishop Middleham & The Skerne - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 2pm - 3pm
Start Location: Bishop Middleham, Nearest postcode DL17 9AR. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. In 3.5km, turn left onto High Road, signposted Bishop Middleham. Turn left onto South View in1.1km. Parking on roadside along High Street.

Walk Number: 7  Distance: 3.9m
Website link: Hardwick Park & Bishop's Fen Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 12pm
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 12pm
Start Location: Hardwick Park, TS21 2DN. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. Take 1st exit on next roundabout into Hardwick Park. Parking charges apply.

Walk Number: 8   Distance: 8.9m
Website link: Deserted Medieval Villages - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 1pm
Start Location: West Park, Aldi car park. DL2 2GL. From A1M, take exit to Darlington (junction 58). Follow A68, take second exit at roundabout to A68. In 230m, turn right into West Park. Other car parks limit to 2 hours.

Walk Number: 9   Distance: 5.2m
Website link: Ferryhill Carrs & Thrislington - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 12pm
Start Location: Ferryhill, Dl17 8BL. Park near junction of Cleves Avenue and Wood Lane

Walk Number: 10   Distance: 7.3m
Website link: Fishburn & Bishop Middleham - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 1pm
Start Location: Fishburn, nearest postcode, TS21 4AD. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. In 3.5km, turn right signposted Fishburn and Trimdon. Parking on roadside along High Street.

Walk Number: 11   Distance: short
Website link: Link to sculpture trail download on website
Day: Saturday Time: 1pm - 2pm / 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Day: Sunday Time: 1pm - 2pm / 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Start Location: Hardwick Park, TS21 2DN. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. Take 1st exit on next roundabout into Hardwick Park. Parking charges apply.

Big Weekend Guided Walks

Walk Number: 1   Distance: 1.7m
Website link: Hurworth Burn Reservoir Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Friday Time: 10:30am - 11:30am & 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Day: Saturday Time: 2pm - 3pm
Day: Sunday Time: 2pm - 3pm 
Start Location: Hurworth Burn reservoir. Nearest Postcode TS28 5NN

Walks Number: 2 & 3  Distance: 7.5m Combined
Website link: Barmpton and Little Ketton Walk - Discover Brightwater
Website link: Brafferton & Newton Ketton Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 1pm 
Start Location: Barmpton. Nearest postcode DL1 3JG.
Turn left off Whinfield Road (A1150) near Asda, onto Whinbush Way. Turn left onto Barmpton Lane in 950, park in small layby before Stonebridge on left in 650m.

Walks Number: 2 & 3  Distance: 7.5m Combined
Website link: Barmpton and Little Ketton Walk - Discover Brightwater
Website link: Brafferton & Newton Ketton Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 1pm 
Start Location: Barmpton. Nearest postcode DL1 3JG.
Turn left off Whinfield Road (A1150) near Asda, onto Whinbush Way. Turn left onto Barmpton Lane in 950, park in small layby before Stonebridge on left in 650m.

Walk Number: 4   Distance: 3.9m
Website link: Salter's Lane and Skerningham Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 2pm - 3:30pm 
Start Location: On Glebe Road. Nearest postcode DL1 3DZ. From A167, take roundabout onto Salter’s Lane North, turn left in 80m onto Glebe Road. Parking available on right hand side of road and very limited at end of Glebe Road.

Walk Number: 5 Distance: 1.4m
Website link: Locomotion & Historic Shildon - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday and Sunday Time: 10am - 11am / 12pm - 1pm / 2pm - 3pm

Start Location: Locomotion National Railway Museum at Shildon, off Dale Road, DL4 2RE. From A1M, follow signs for Shildon and brown signs for Locomotion Museum.

Walk Number: 6   Distance: 3m
Website link: Bishop Middleham & The Skerne - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 2pm - 3pm 
Start Location: Bishop Middleham, Nearest postcode DL17 9AR. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. In 3.5km, turn left onto High Road, signposted Bishop Middleham. Turn left onto South View in1.1km. Parking on roadside along High Street.

Walk Number: 7  Distance: 3.9m
Website link: Hardwick Park & Bishop's Fen Walk - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 12pm 
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 12pm 
Start Location: Hardwick Park, TS21 2DN. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. Take 1st exit on next roundabout into Hardwick Park. Parking charges apply.

Walk Number: 8   Distance: 8.9m
Website link: Deserted Medieval Villages - Discover Brightwater
Day: Sunday Time: 10am - 1pm
Start Location: West Park, Aldi car park. DL2 2GL. From A1M, take exit to Darlington (junction 58). Follow A68, take second exit at roundabout to A68. In 230m, turn right into West Park. Other car parks limit to 2 hours.

Walk Number: 9   Distance: 5.2m
Website link: Ferryhill Carrs & Thrislington - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 12pm 
Start Location: Ferryhill, Dl17 8BL. Park near junction of Cleves Avenue and Wood Lane

Walk Number: 10  Distance: 7.3m
Website link: Fishburn & Bishop Middleham - Discover Brightwater
Day: Saturday Time: 10am - 1pm 
Start Location: Fishburn, nearest postcode, TS21 4AD. From A1M, take A689 towards Sedgefield, take 1st exit on roundabout onto A177 towards Coxhoe. In 3.5km, turn right signposted Fishburn and Trimdon. Parking on roadside along High Street.

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Brightwater Events

Locomotion

  • Friday – Printing Workshop
  • Saturday – Learn all about bees and how to keep them. See the observational hive and discover how bees make honey.
  • Saturday & Sunday – Guided Walk of Locomotion and Historic Shildon. Accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs 10am – 11am, 12pm – 1pm, 2pm – 3pm. Click on number …. On the map for the walk details.
  • Sunday – Tour of the museum  – 11am and 2pm

Visit their website here

Head Of Steam Museum

Friday, Saturday and Sunday Free Admissions to the museum. Come and have a go on the ride on miniature railway as part of the Big Weekend. Visit their website here

Hardwick

Everyday Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will be there with activities for all of the family:

  • Archaeology box – dig in and see what you discover!
  • Face painting – Take your pick of colourful faces – a wetland creature perhaps
  • Pebble painting – a wetland creature perhaps or whatever you have in mind. Place your pebble to help create the meandering river Skerne
  • Watch our short video about how a group of school children created ‘The Song of the Skerne’.
  • Vegan Tasters – Why not try one of these sweet/savoury vegan tasters – not only are they delicious but they are kinder on the planet too.
  • Birdbox making – Make a birdbox or bug hotel with the Discover Brightwater Wetland Trainees. They’ll be able to share with you what they have been learning about and the skills they are developing.
  • Sculpture trail –why not take a family activity leaflet and discover the amazing wood carved animals which inhabit the park for yourself or there are guided walks on Saturday and Sunday – See our walks schedule for times.
  • Buy your Discover Brightwater – Billy and the Ox book in the shop for £4.50
  • Guided walk/talk of Hurworth Burn Reservoir 1.7m 10.30pm and 1.30pm. Click on number …. On the map for the walk details.
  • Guided walk on Saturday and Sunday from Hardwick Park to Bishops Fen 3.9miles 10 am – 12 pm. Click on the number …. On the map for the walk details.
  • Guided walk on Saturday and Sunday of the Discover Brightwater Sculpture trail with a family activity leaflet and discover the amazing wood carved animals that inhabit the park. 1pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm.

Additional activities

Friday

  • Heritage crafts – Willow weaving – Make your own miniature willow hurdle
  • Wetland Expert – Meet our wetland expert and find out how our wetlands are so interesting and important
  • Perfect your drawing skills with Liz Million – Drop into the Yurt between 10am – 2pm to perfect your drawing skills with Liz Million – author and illustrator of the Discover Brightwater book ‘Billy and the Ox’. After that, there is the Durham Ox drawing activity where you will be able to use these skills for yourself.
  • The Bubble Whisperer – Join in the fun!