Forest bathing at Causey Arch

Causey Arch picnic area sits at Marley Hill, near Stanley, where the Causey Burn runs through a gorge of ancient woodland. The arch itself was built in 1725 and 1726 by the mason Ralph Wood to carry coal wagons towards the Tyne; it is Grade I listed and was restored in the 1980s. The site is a scheduled monument and a Local Wildlife Site, with running water and grassland as well as the trees.

Start from the picnic area by the arch. Easy-access routes on both sides of the gorge are level and tarmacked, so this is a good choice if rough ground is a problem, and a series of public paths lead further along the burn under the trees. The Tanfield Railway and Beamish are both close by, so it is easy to combine with a day out, but the gorge paths themselves are the quiet part.