My husband can’t understand how or why I haven’t written more about the city of Durham. It’s one of our favourite places for strolling (what’s more alluring than a river bank?), and beautiful in all seasons. One of the many reasons we fell in love with Tavira in the Eastern Algarve was that it reminded us in some unspoken way of Durham: the churches, the river, the many places to eat, and to drink in lovely views.
Milburngate Bridge and the Weir- credit Wikipedia
Of course Durham is bigger and more cosmopolitan, and can’t compete when it comes to weather and beaches. It doesn’t need to. The 11th century Castle and Norman Cathedral, linked by Palace Green, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. It was very fitting that at the recently staged Lumiere Festival, the Lindisfarne Gospels were projected onto the south face of the Cathedral. The origins of today’s city can be traced back to AD995, when a group of monks from Lindisfarne chose this highly defensible “island on a hill” as the final resting place of St Cuthbert.
Legend of the Dun Cow on the South face of the Cathedral- credit Rebecca Kennison for Wikipedia
The River Wear surrounds Durham on three sides. The place name derives from Old English “dun”, a hill, and Norse “holme”, an island. The Legend of the Dun Cow is depicted in a carving on the Cathedral’s south face, adjoining Dun Cow Lane, known to be one of the earliest streets in the city. The story goes that the homeless monks carrying the coffin were mysteriously brought to a halt, unable to move, close by the present site of the city. After 3 days of prayer and fasting, St Cuthbert appeared to one of the monks with the instruction that he be “carried to Dun Holm”. The whereabouts of this place was unknown to the monks, but a milkmaid arrived later that day, and claimed to be searching for her “dun cow”, last seen at Dun Holm. Recognising this as a sign of divine intervention, the monks suddenly were able to move the coffin, and follow her.
“Miner’s vests” in Durham Cathedral at Lumiere 2012
Today’s cathedral is an awesome space, usually busy with tourists, unlike the modest one erected by the monks. St Cuthberts relics are still enshrined here, as are the bones of St Bede the Venerable.
Castle Keep and Dun Cow Lane- credit Robin Widdison for Wikipedia
Durham Castle is a fine example of the motte and bailey style favoured by the Normans. In continuous use for over 900 years, it remains the only castle in the UK never to have been breached. Now home to Durham University, guided castle tours lasting 45 minutes can be arranged, afternoons in term-time and mornings during vacations.
Durham Traditional Christmas Festival, the first weekend in December, sees Durham get in party mode. (free on Friday, admission charge to the marquees and craft fair on Palace Green, Saturday and Sunday) Children’s events take place at the World Heritage Visitor Centre on Owengate over the weekend, with falconry and balloon making as well as the more traditional reindeer. The children’s lantern procession takes place on Saturday afternoon, and Christmas Carols in the cathedral are always a bit special. www.durhamchristmasfestival.com
Cathedral in the snow
Despite its heritage and historical buildings, Durham is not a stuffy place. The student population keeps it young and lively, and also keeps the prices down in the rich variety of cafes and restaurants. There’s an indoor market off Market Place, for “cheap as chips”, and an Oxfam bookstore over 3 storeys, where I love to curl up in a corner and browse.
My food of choice tends to be Italian and over the years I’ve thoroughly enjoyed La Spaghettata, upstairs at 66 Saddler St. The décor is quite individual and the menu extensive. Quite different but also a favourite, especially if you can get the window seat to spy on shoppers down below, is De Medici on Elvet Bridge. When it comes to cafes you really are spoilt but I especially like The Almshouses on Palace Green, surrounded by lovely university buildings. There’s always a choice of homemade soups and oh those cakes and puddings! The artwork on the walls is good for conversation too.
If you’ve walked through the cathedral and cloisters, don’t neglect the Dean and Chapter area at the reverse. It’s one of the loveliest and most peaceful spots in Durham.
Durham Regatta- credit Wikipedia
The river can be pretty peaceful too. Coxless fours glide effortlessly past, while less coordinated efforts come from the families in rowing boats. The river truly comes to life in June when Durham Regatta provides enormous enjoyment for everyone. Best riverside moment this year just has to be the vapour “waterfall” streaming from Kingsgate Bridge during “Lumiere”. Splash! by Peter Lewis of Canada provided all the magic you could want. I loved that lone canoeists roamed the water at sunset, waiting for the moment when they could paddle “through the waterfall”.
Durham is a compact, easily walkable city, with excellent bus and rail transport links. For drivers there are 3 Park and Ride facilities, making life easy. My husband says not to tell you, but we always park for free, by the playground at the top of Wharton Park, and walk down past the viaduct. It’s a steep climb back up though.
So there you have it- the Durham I know and love. As good a place to do your Christmas shopping as anywhere you could find.
“Lumiere 2011” was special. You can read more about it in https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/celebrating-light-with-durham/
restlessjo 
I should check it out then…
N.
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Your husband was right 🙂 so much to see and learn about who better than one who loves it so. Well done!
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Thanks for following me here and your lovely comments, Eunice. 🙂
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Thanks for taking us along 🙂
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You’re right, Jo, Durham is a gorgeous city – far too much to see in one brief visit. Alas, though the riverside walk is peaceful and beautiful, by the time we’d upped and downed all those steps and cobbled streets,I was absolutely on my knees. I shall have to come back for more, preferably after an energy transplant! I loved every minute we spent there.
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So glad you enjoyed it Viv. Come back soon and give me a shout when you do- I know some great coffee spots.
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We found one of them. Do go look at my Sunday Wordle post – there are some pix from yesterday at the bottom – more when I’ve had a chance to sort them out.
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/a-sheepish-wordle/
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Ah, my sister is named Jo as well! Thank you for this tour of Dunham; I found you at Viv’s blog and clicked the link to be magically transported to a place which, much like my new town of Madison, WI (USA), is not stuffy at all, plenty of bookshops and cafes. We lack the rich history of Europe; however, we make up for it in political feistiness on behalf of the disenfranchised. Bless you for these lovely views, especially inside the church, the “miners’ vests” aglow… Amy Barlow Liberatore
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/03/02/twofer-six-wd-sat-and-carnegie-hall/
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Thank you for visiting. The “miners vests” shot is fabulous, isn’t it? I couldn’t help “stealing” it though we took lots of photos ourselves at the Durham “Lumiere” festival. I wrote a separate blog on this because it was truly wonderful, though the cathedral was too full for us to get inside for a concert. I shall go back and put a link in now- makes sense, doesn’t it?
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oh wow! Durham looks really beautiful. I have passed the city a few times on my way to Scotland but had never stopped there before. Need to visit the city one day!
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It’s a great city Amer. Give me a shout if you ever manage it. I’m not far away.
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I am totally with Ashkitty! what a superb piece of writing, so descriptive and fab photos that open up the vista. As mentioned before I have driven by on the train to Edinburgh and now I can be sure that the next trip will end in Durham. I am mad about castles and the town sounds fab….esp the book shop. How marvellous if we could meet up for a cuppa! thanks for teasing me 🙂 I note the train tickets are fairly pricey so will have to save up 🙂 thanks for a fabulous post. Cindy
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Thank you so much Cindy! Yes, be sure to let me know when and where. About ready to post my Portuguese equivalent of Durham, Tavira.
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fabulous pictures! great choices and great depiction!
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Glad you approve Paula. Must be doing something right! Thank you
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Nice post ang good introduction to the city – good photos!
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I very nearly went to uni in Durham and went up for an interview there years ago and really liked the city, but have never been back since. Will have to go back and rediscover it sometime, looks lovely.
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Should have known you’d have been there Lucy! Thanks for reading
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Nice post 🙂
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I learn something new about my surroundings each time I read your posts. I really must make the effort and take my camera to Durham. Looking forward to your next travelogue.
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What lovely photographs. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks Susan. Can’t take credit for a lot of the photos. We’ve been going there so long that a lot of ours are still tucked away in photo albums- remember them? But we did have a bonanza at Lumiere recently. Will take time out later to have a look around yours
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We frequently pass through Durham on the train to Edinburgh, must break our journey there sometime.
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Thanks for a great insight into a lovely city that I have not yet visited. Great photos and written to hold the attention.
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Cheers David. Will take time to have a look around yours later
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If there was a superlike button, I would have preferred clicking that! loved your images. I have always been fascinated by Durham, especially the cathedral …just never had the chance to go there. You images so much re kindle that wish !
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Wow! Thank you so much! I guess you don’t always truly appreciate what’s on your doorstep, and I shied away from this topic thinking “so much has been written about Durham- what can I add?” But I really enjoyed writing it, and the opportunity to revisit “Lumiere”
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