Breeze to St Cuthberts Open Garden 2025

Breeze to St Cuthberts Open Garden Day
Sun 27th July 2025 9.30am 25 miles
Start Broompark Picnic site DH7 7RJ. Finish St Cuthberts Hospice.

We love to support St Cuthberts Hospice so here’s a great opportunity to weave a bike ride into a visit to their annual summer open garden day. https://www.stcuthbertshospice.com/events/ngs-open-gardens/

A few hills in this ride (1400’ elevation) and please bring your own packed lunch as we will have a picnic on the green at Hunwick. We’ll finish our day at the Hospice where we will stop to view the gardens and for a cuppa and cake.

We’ll start our day at Broompark and will pedal along the Deerness railway path to Waterhouses where we’ll climb the Stanley Incline before heading down to the River Wear via Billy Row, Crook and Howden. In true west Durham style we’ll climb yet another hill to North Bitchburn to breeze along the valley top and then down to Hunwick. Along the Brandon railway path we’ll then take a detour via Scripton Gill and Sunderland Bridge for the final hill conquer to the Cock of the North and to our destination at Merryoaks where we can enjoy their beautifully nurtured gardens with a chance for tea and cake. If we are pushed for time, we will avoid the final detour and come straight back along the Brandon railway path to get to the Hospice from The Stonebridge.

Expect to be out for 5-6 hours including garden visit.

In order for the ride to leave promptly, please be punctual so we can carry out bike checks, etc. prior to us setting off. Make sure your bike is in working condition and bring a spare tube to fit your tyres.

As the weather is often unpredictable we may alter the ride slightly if conditions aren’t great and we'll make any decision to cancel/amend by 8.30am on the morning and let you know via the conversation tab within the ride booking system.

For any queries please use the option to ‘Message Ride Creator’. If you book and later can’t make it please cancel your place so we know for sure who to expect on the day. For any last minute cancellations on the day please also add a note in the ride Conversation before cancelling so increasing its chance of being seen and so we know who we are expecting.