Consettis a former steel-making town inCounty Durham,in the hills 14 miles southwest of Newcastle. In 2021 the population was 29,885.

Understand

"Consett" derives fromCunecsheafod,Cunec's headland - it's on a steep bank above the River Derwent at 900 ft / 270 m elevation, distinctly chilly in winter. It was an insignificant hamlet until the 18th century, then mushroomed with industries based on the local coal, iron ore and limestone. Britain's earliest steel industry was here, specialising in "sharps" such as swords and cutlery until Sheffield captured that trade. In the 20th century its main product was steel plates and girders for construction and ship-building, and its skies were a red haze of iron ore dust and furnace smoke. In the late 20th century British steel became uneconomic, in spite of subsidy, and an entire way of life here collapsed when the steelworks closed.

Get in

By road from the south follow A1 to Scotch Corner then A68 to Castleside then A692 into Consett. You could also stay on A1 to Durham then take A690 / A691.

The nearest railway stations are inNewcastle upon TyneandDurham,both on the London Kings Cross - Edinburgh main line, and with buses to Consett. A taxi from either might cost £40-50 in 2024. There's talk of restoring the railway, axed in 1980, but nothing's happened.

Go Northeast Bus X45 runs from Newcastle every 30 min, taking an hour via Metrocentre, Winlaton Mill, Rowlands Gill, Ebchester, Shotley Bridge and Blackhill. X71 runs hourly and takes an hour viaGateshead`, Lobley Hill, Sunniside, Burnopfield, Medomsley and Leadgate.

Bus X5 / X15 runs from Durham every 30 min, taking 40 min via University Hospital, Witton Gilbert and Lanchester, and continuing to Castleside.

Bus 78 runs fromSunderlandevery 30 min, taking almost two hours viaChester-le-Street,Stanley and Leadgate.

1Consett Bus Stationis central in town. It's a covered mall.

Get around

You need wheels to get out of the grubby town and enjoy the moors and Derwent Valley. Roads are switchback as they cross the valleys of rivers flowing out of the moors - cyclists will especially enjoy screeching on the brakes on A68 below Castleside while contemplating the grinding ascent ahead.

Taxis in town are Atlas (☏+44 1207 509770) and Consett Cars (☏+44 1207 502277), both based at the bus station.

See

• Christ Churchis at 62 Middle St, 100 yards west of the bus station. It was built in 1866 with a squat cod-Norman tower, which is at risk of collapse.
• 1Terris Novalisis a sculpture on the site of Consett Steel Works, closed in 1980. It's two metal structures, a theodolite and an engineer's level, 20 ft tall and visible for miles around.Terris Novalismeans "newly cultivated land" and is meant to symbolise the remediation of this brownfield area. It's on C2C coast-to-coast cycle path and accessible 24 hours.
• 2Wharnley Burn Waterfallis reached by a short but quaggy walk west up the riverbank from the A68 bridge. Gorgeous colours here in autumn.
• Allensford Foundryis crumbling masonry seen from the riverside going east from the bridge.
• 3Ebchestercompletely buries a Roman fort and settlement; it's named for Æbbe of Coldingham who only turned up in the 7th century. St Ebba's church is 11th century, re-using stone from the fort.
• 4Derwentcote Steel Furnaceis one of Britain's oldest. An iron works stood here from 1719, but you need to add just the right trace of carbon to turn iron into steel, far stronger. A "cementation" plant was built here in the 1730s, using Swedish iron ore to make high-grade cutlery. Cementation was the main technology in 18th century England until supplanted by "puddling", which reduced rather than added carbon, and which in turn was replaced by Bessemer blast furnaces. Derwentcote closed in the 1880s, as it was obsolete and with poor transport. It's simply a large cottage off A694, free to view outside any time but with no interior access. English Heritage conduct guided walks around this area.

Do

Terris Novalis

• Empiretheatre and cinema is at 5 Front St, 100 yards south of the bus station.
• Consett Leisure Centrehas a pool, gym and fitness classes. It's on B6308 Medomsley Rd a quarter mile north of town centre.
• Golf:Consett & District GCis on Elmfield Rd north side of town. White tees 6083 yards, par £71.
• Footballis played in the amateur leagues. Consett AFC play soccer at Bellevue east side of town. Consett RFC play rugby union at the leisure centre. Consett Steelers play rugby league at the leisure centre, with a March-October season.
• Derwent Walkfollows a former railway track for 12½ miles beside the River Derwent. From Consett and Shotley Bridge it heads northeast via Gibside to Derwenthaugh Country Park nearGatesheadMetro Centre.

Buy

• Supermarkets:Aldi is on Front St west of town centre, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Morrisons is further down the street at the junction with A692 and has a filling station.
• KnitsleyFarm,a farm shop selling fresh local produce. There is an annexed restaurant which is very popular among the locals. Both inside and outside dining options available.

Eat

These are mostly just north of the bus station.

• The Old Courthouse,Victoria Rd DH8 5AX,☏+44 1207 438148.W Th 4-10PM, F noon-1AM, Sa 9AM-1PM, Su 9AM-5PM.Classic pub fare.(updated Mar 2024)
• Sambucais within Britannia Shops at 27 Victoria Rd, open Tu-Th noon-3PM, 4-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM.
• The Old Mill, Knitsleyserves non-residents, see below.

Drink

Old ore bucket, Consett

• Front Streetjust south of the bus station is the main strip. Here are The Company Row (below),The Barn 2,The Black Horse,Bar 1,The Whistle Blower,Turfed Oot Cafe and Chaplains.
• The Company Row,Victoria Centre DH8 5BQ,☏+44 1207 585600.Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM.Reliable JD Wetherspoon pub for inexpensive food and ale.(updated Mar 2024)

Sleep

• 1Crown & Crossed Swords,Front St, Shotley Bridge DH8 0HU,☏+44 1207 502006.Pub with rooms, simple but acceptable, most customers are simply here for a meal. In 2024 it hosts meetings of a far-right party, so some visitors feel uncomfortable, but those party views chime well in hundreds of pubs in run-down post-industrial towns so they're an authentic slice of northern English life. And it's obviously the fault of the "woke brigade", dastardly European Union and parasitic immigrants that they can't afford to put up at Derwent Manor.B&B double £90.(updated Mar 2024)
• 2The Old Mill,Butsfield Lane, Knitsley DH8 9EL,☏+44 1207 581642.Simple rooms in a charming converted mill house.B&B double £90.(updated Mar 2024)
• 3Derecroft Glamping,Woodside Bank, Lanchester DH8 7TG(On A691),☏+44 7548 151360.Swish comfy glamping pods at an equestrian centre, open all year. Now we only need yurts and Consett's economic regeneration will be complete.Pod £180 pn.(updated Mar 2024)
• 4Derwent Manor,Allensford DH8 9BB(on A68),☏+44 1207 592000.Great reviews for this upscale hotel above Derwent valley, with 56 rooms and 4 cottages.B&B double £130.(updated Mar 2024)
• Derwentsideby the A68 bridge at Allensford has long-stay caravan pitches but nothing for short-stay tourers or campers.

• Lord Crewe Armsfurther up Derwent Valley gets rave reviews, seeCorbridge#Sleep.

Connect

Christ Church

As of March 2024, Consett and its approach roads have a basic mobile signal from O2, and 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Beamishopen-air museum is 10 miles east near Stanley.
• Hadrian's Wallcourses along the Tyne Valley 15 miles north. You can pick up the path at Heddon-on-the-Wall, but Roman ruins are only substantial fromCorbridgewest towards Brampton.
• Durhamis a must-see for its medieval cathedral and castle perched on a river peninsula.
• Head intoNewcastlefor big city amusements and a surprisingly elegant early 19th century townscape.