During lockdown getting out for a walk is important for your physical and mental health so why not take in some of Sunderland’s history on your daily strolls.
This circular walk, which is 4.1 miles or 6.6km long, starts and finishes at Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre and it is estimated to take around two hours to complete.
The heritage trail, which was produced with Sunderland City Council and Silksworth Heritage Group, takes you through areas rich with mining history – including the site of the old Silksworth Colliery and Hetton Colliery Railway Line.
The walk takes you from the car park round to Doxford Park and up through New Silksworth. We take a look at some of the sites you will see and even include some retro pictures from what they looked like more than 50 years ago.
For detailed instructions click here.
![From the car park head towards Silkworth Lake past the ski slope - this is the site where Silksworth Colliery previously stood pictured here in the 1930s.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNhOWFhOGI5LWFlZTYtNDFmYy1hOTA2LThkMzk4Mzc5Nzg4NDowNmRiMjc5Zi0xYzVkLTQ1YTUtYmYwMy0wMjFkMjU2MjE4OTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Silksworth Colliery
From the car park head towards Silkworth Lake past the ski slope - this is the site where Silksworth Colliery previously stood pictured here in the 1930s. Photo: Sunderland Echo
![From Silksworth Lake (pictured) follow the footpath connecting North Moor Lane and Silksworth Road. This is what was once the Hetton Colliery Railway Line.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZiMWNiN2YzLTBkZjYtNDc1Yi05MDBkLTA0YTI1ZDU1MDFkYTo2ZWZmNGU3Zi03MTBhLTQzMTktYTVhOC00ODNmNzM5YTYwMTY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. Silksworth Lake and Hetton Colliery Railway Line
From Silksworth Lake (pictured) follow the footpath connecting North Moor Lane and Silksworth Road. This is what was once the Hetton Colliery Railway Line. Photo: JPI
![Take a stroll through Doxford Park which is situated in the grounds of the Doxford family home.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc2ZTdkZGJmLTYzN2EtNDViNS1iMDZjLWZjYjZkMTdhYTI4ODozZWM4MjQzZi04NDA4LTRkNDYtODE1ZC01ZWY3YWQyOTMyYTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Wander through Doxford Park
Take a stroll through Doxford Park which is situated in the grounds of the Doxford family home. Photo: JPI
![Take a look inside the Secret Garden which volunteers at Friends of Doxford Park have been working hard to give a new lease of life.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmMzZDhhYjM2LTk1YzUtNGVhNS1hYzU1LWMyNDE2MzQyYjViZjoyZDVlZDVhMS1lM2IyLTRmODctOTU1Yi02ZDlkMDE3ZjQ5MWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. Explore the Secret Garden
Take a look inside the Secret Garden which volunteers at Friends of Doxford Park have been working hard to give a new lease of life. Photo: Stu Norton