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A path using the trackbed of the Durham and Sunderland Railway. It is part of the National Cycle Network (Route 1) and has mostly a whindust surface.

The railway was opened in 1836 and was for twenty years cable hauled by fixed engines. At the time of construction it was believed that the gradients would be too much for locomotives and the engineers chose to build the line with steep gradients. When taken over the North Eastern Railway in the 1850s technology had long since moved on and the route was locomotive operated until final closure in 1991 when Murton Colliery closed.

Passenger services were withdrawn in 1952.

The steepness of the line up to Murton was one of the sharpest gradients on the railway network and used for locomotive trials.