Durham Grange park and ride
Hello all. We are booked on Durham Grang next week and wondered if anyone could advise of a safe route on foot to get to the Belmont park and ride. On google maps I cant make out if there are any footpaths or crossings. Many thanks.
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It is possible to walk there, but you have to make your way over a very busy roundabout. If I was you I'd just drive the short distance to the P&R.
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yes +1, and those roads you would have to cross are two lane ones coming on and off the motorway. Plenty of good parking in Durham, Price Bishops is right in the heart of the city.
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As already advised above, its only a short distance to the park and ride, but you have to cross a very busy road. We drove in our car and parked at the P&R and the bus takes you to the centre of Durham, and no stress parking in the City.
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Slightly off topic but if you go to the cathedral (which is brilliant) firstly you are 'funneled' through to some cash desks where it appears you have to pay to enter but you don't as it is a voluntary donation and so up to you. Secondly go though the cloisters and out behind the cathedral to some very lovely squares and houses.
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Many thanks for the replies. Might have to be an taxi into Durham.
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Do you have a M/H by any chance and don't want to drive it off your pitch? You are showing as a caravan owner, hence me saying that it's easy to drive your car the short distance to the P&R.
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Corners,
Glad you raised the comment about Durham ( and other ) cathedral charges. I've never paid to go into a Church And I never will -- BUT I always head to the relevant desk a ) to get permission to take photos** and b) make any donation at the end of my Visit .
** I have never been refused permission to take photographs BUT when I was in Durham I was told they must never be used for anything other than my education -- Any child photoed and I must have obtained written permission from both parents { Try complying with that when two or three school choirs are practising !! } If those conditions are satisfied then its only a meagre £ 50 per camera !!
I must admit that was some years back, before all these super clever mobile fones became popular .
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Cathedral is simply stunning. If you want a nice stroll, head over the bridge from the multi storey/shopping centre, turn right down some steps past the Nine Altars Cafe (highly recommended) and walk along the river path under the cathedral. You can either keep going and wander through the old houses and up into the Cathedral square, or go right around and over the second bridge, and then climb up the steepish street with some great shops up to the Cathedral. Don’t miss the door knocker!😁
Edit: just found out....sadly, Nine Altars Cafe is now closed!😢 it was a really nice place, with great food and a tranquil location overlooking the river. Oh well, have to try somewhere new on our next visit.
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yes I do the same regarding donations and I know these places do take a lot of upkeep but the arrangements at Durham are tantamount to mugging. You are met by the main entrance by purple robe wearing staff and then directed and channelled into a small cordoned off corridor of about 3 feet wide with a number of cash machines which you have to (often queue) pass before getting in.
On the rare occasions I go there (usually when its the cars' yearly service on the outskirts of Durham) I smile and just go straight in. I'm never challenged but if I ever am it's going to be 'do I have to pay to enters my Father's house?'
Yes I remember many years ago, when I first went there with the then-to-be Mrs C (so around 1982) having to pay 50p and given a sticky badge to wear while taking photographs, now all the schoolchildren have their mobiles out taking selfies so I suppose they have given up on that.
If anyone wants to avoid the cash machines and queues, don't turn right into Cathedral green but carry on until you come to a large arch, turn right there and you'll find an 'unguarded' entrance into the cloisters.
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Durham’s not so bad to get into. York Minster is an out and out mugging, but you can gift aid it and visit all year, as we do. I am a bit torn about giving money to get into a place of worship, I simply love church buildings, so don’t want to see them eroded in any way. But some are very very commercially minded. If we don’t have to pay, we tend to use refectory cafes, buy something in the shop, leave a donation.
Worse place I can recall visiting for sheer arrogance was Worcester Cathedral. (You don’t pay to get in.) We went in separately as we took our dogs with us. OH was fine, got to have a good look around. I went in to find barrier ropes up stopping me getting to King John’s Tomb, Prince Arthur’s Tomb. I asked a guide why, and was told some church official, think it was Deacon, was talking to a chorister. They were just stood laughing together in middle of choir. So I explained it would be easier for them to move and talk elsewhere, rather than me to have travelled hundred miles not to see what I had specifically come to look and enjoy. I was polite and firm, and the official backed down, but I was only allowed 10 minutes! 😡
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I find it sad when in the present time their are high charges to visit churches and small churches find a need to lock their doors when unattended.
I am not religious and have no belief in gods. I can recall times in my life however when I have been troubled and entered a church in order to quietly sit and contemplate probably 40 + years ago. Sadly I can understand why unattended churches are locked in present times.
A number of cathedrals have removed charges in more recent times. My late father in law who was not religious use to donate the Chester Cathedral until they made an entry charge - now removed
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I must admit I don't like this voluntary donation at a cash register sort of thing. The Natural History Museum are also into this system and it is far from clear that you don't have to pay. I personally don't have a problem with paying to visit a Cathedral, they are after all very expensive to run and I am visiting in the same way I would a NT property. If I wanted to attend a service there is no charge. However, it should be either clearly a charge, or clearly a donation, with just a box to put it in, no cash registers and guiding attendants.
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Very much agree ET, sad that so many can’t leave their doors unlocked. But the stuff that disappears is often irreplaceable, such as old bits of armour, chalices, crosses, unique kneelers. We wanted to visit some of the small churches in rural locations just above Humber around Fort Paul, but they were all locked. Not surprised really, they are very vulnerable.
I have brazened it out at the odd place if it’s been a flying visit. I stopped in Wells with Mum and Dad coming home from Cornwall one year. Wanted to show them scissor arches and the wonderful clock. We were interrogated and followed down the Nave, by someone in flapping robes, (Dad was in his wheelchair, we really didn’t look dodgy😂). Had we donated.........takes so many millions to upkeep.....blah blah.... I said no we hadn’t donated, but we did spend in the shop, and hoped that Christian Charity might accommodate our 10 minute stay. He disappeared, probably lurking timing us somewhere.
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If you are fleet of foot and with good eyesight, you will be able to get to the park & road on foot. Probably not a good idea with young children. Come out of the site to the dual carriageway. Cross the first carriageway (traffic from Durham) and then turn left. Its a short walk up the centre reservation (usually a path is visible in the grass). Cross the second carriageway (traffic for Durham) where you can see the oncoming traffic.
Carry on around the roundabout and you then cross the slip roads for the A1M motorway. The first slip road is for 'off traffic' and it easy to see oncoming traffic. Second slip road is for 'on traffic' so be very watchful.
Keep going around the roundabout and you will reach the A690. Turn right and follow the road to the major traffic light junction. Cross the A690 using the traffic lights and you'll end up in the car park.
Best avoid weekends because the traffic is usually high speed cars. During the week, there are plenty of heavy goods wagons but they do slow down the traffic.Keep your wits about you and you should be fine. We were.
An alternative is to ask the wardens for a map to walk to Durham along a path. Takes about a pleasant hour.
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We actually took our MH into Durham and parked along Framwellgate Waterside. Admittedly only a small MH, but there is a carpark down there as well, called Sidegate. Pleasant stroll up river to Framwell Bridge, then up and over Wear to old part of town. Not sure if OP is towing or in MH? It’s about a mile and half from Site into city centre.
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It's always difficult with old churches. Ours is early twelfth century and it is a difficult balancing act between an active place of worship and ancient monument. It was originally an Augustinian priory church and, being quite small, we can't utilise the big cathedral's fundraising techniques. Not sure I'd want us to anyway. I do identify with Corners response.
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Back to the subject.
There is a footpath all the way to P & R. It's not as bad as what people are making out. It is on the opposite side of the road. Leave the club site and cross to the small footpath on the opposite side. Walk towards the roundabout and cross the Off slip road. this is easy because it's controlled by traffic lights. Walk forward and cross the On slip road. This is not traffic light controlled but the entrance to P & R is, so the red lights there stop the traffic giving you time to cross the slip road, just watch for traffic coming from Durham to join the motorway on your left.. Walk up to the traffic light controlled cross roads and cross into the P & R
Alternatively don't cross, keep on walking a few hundred yards to the Ramside Hall Hotel. Very much worth a visit, especially for the carvery
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