Causey Arch

Background

This outdoor attraction in County Durham (near Stanley) is the world’s oldest railway bridge and a woodland with many accessible walks to explore and history to learn about.

The bridge spans over 100 feet across the babbling Causey Burn stream below, and it towers 80 feet high across the middle of the woodland gorge. Along the many trails, you will find the replica of an 18th Century coal wagon and information boards telling the history of the early railways that existed in the area. There are also a few other exhibits to look at and learn about around the woods.

The rail tracks running past the top of the gorge at the edge of the woods are also part of this outdoor attraction, and they connect East Tanfield station to the Tanfield Railway Museum nearby. When the trains are running you can watch them pass by from the side during your walk.

As well as the Arch and the woodland trails, there is also the Causey Arch Tea Rooms at the visitor car park that is open to all visitors. It is a little venue serving all kinds of refreshments including hot drinks and cakes.

This outdoor attraction and woodland is also near to Beamish Museum and Beamish Hall Hotel. You can do an hour-long walk from Causey Arch to the hotel and stop off at the Stables Bar & Restaurant for lunch and a drink. There is plenty of nature to explore around here too, and the Tanfield Railway open-air museum is just up the road.

We will now look closer at the many different walks and trails you can do.

Walks

There are many different trails of varying difficulty. You can choose to do circular walks around the woodland gorge of different lengths too. Some of the walks involve climbing up steps. There is plenty of things to see during your walk, including the Causey Arch itself that towers over the running Causey Burn at the bottom.

History

The arch is actually the world’s oldest (intact) railway bridge! There is no working railway going over it today, but you can actually walk over the old bridge yourself and take in the scenes of the deep ravine from high up. This can also be included as part of your walk as well.

To one side of the arch, there is an exhibit featuring an accurate replica of an 18th Century coal wagon. You can read about it and the old railways that operated on Tanfield Railway at the time.

There are other exhibits further and deeper in the woodland including the Bobgins Pumping Engine, marked by a concrete pillar.

Tea Rooms

The tea rooms are located at the main car park, and are open to all visitors (whether you’re visiting the arch or not). Here, people can buy all kinds of refreshments including cakes, scones, chocolate, crisps and soft drinks. They also serve hot drinks off all kinds including flat white, cappuccinos, lattes (with flavoured syrups available) and regular filter coffee as well as tea.

The hot food they do here includes many homemade dishes like quiches, breakfast buns, such as bacon, sausage and hash browns in a bun, soups of different flavours, and jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings.

The tea room also has the option to sit outside in their little garden, or you can sit in the main indoor seating area or their conservatory (where it is a little bit more spacious).

Location

This outdoor attraction set in the woods is just a short drive from Stanley town centre, where there are large supermarkets. It is a short drive up the road from Tanfield Railway Museum: the Tanfield Railway actually runs past the Causey Arch woods.

You can also walk around the Beamish Burns woods that’s near to the Beamish outdoor attraction and museum.

Other nearby locations that you can also visit include Beamish open-air museum (which is about a medium drive from Causey Arch) and the Beamish Burns woods. It is also located near places to eat including the South Causey Inn, which is just over the road from the turn-off to the Causey Arch car park. There is also the Beamish Hall Hotel Stables Bar & Restaurant, to which you can either do a medium walk down one of the field trails to over the hills or take a short drive.

Accessibility

Wheelchairs

Some of the walks in the woodlands (particularly the walk down the bottom of the gorge) boast a number of steps and uneven terrain. There are many steps climbing up to the Causey Arch railway bridge. More accessible walks include the trail going along the top of the woodland alongside the railway. Wheelchairs can also get across the bridge itself (there are railings on both sides for safety).

Accessiblity at The Tea Rooms

The tea room is suitable for families with babies and toddlers; they provide high chairs and include child-friendly sized meals. People can also ask staff to warm up bottles of milk for babies. There are also baby changing facilities in their toilet. The toilet is also accessible and disability friendly; it includes handlebars and an emergency pull-cord for the toilet alarm and is more spacious than a standard toilet.

There is also the option to sit outside and a take-away option for food and drinks. There are also picnic benches and outdoor spaces available.

The busiest times are usually between lunch-time and 2pm on weekends and school holidays.

Car Parking

Their car park is completely free of charge and includes disabled parking spaces nearest to the tea rooms. Other places to park nearby include outside the South Causey Inn pub, but you will need to cross the main road to get to the tea room and the Causey Arch walks.

Dog Friendly

The whole area is dog friendly (including the tea rooms, where they sell dog treats and biscuits at the counter). The outdoor spaces are dog friendly.

Public Transport

There are plenty of bus stops along the A6076 main road, where different bus services operate. The closest bus stop is a short walk from the car park. The nearest train station to Causey Arch is in Chester-Le-Street.

Conclusion

If you want to find more places like this to visit in the area, check out these listings too:

• Beamish Museum
• Derwent Steel Furnace
• Waldridge Fell

Accessible places to eat (including tea rooms, cafés and pubs) in the area:

• Beamish Hall Stables Bar & Restaurant
• South Causey Inn
• The Owl & Otter