Heritage trails and walks

Sunderland is a place with ancient roots stretching back to the Anglo-Saxon age and beyond. The city was once little more than a fishing hamlet and a scattering of sparsely populated rural settlements. Yet over time, it was transformed into an industrial powerhouse with a world-class reputation as a builder of ships and exporter of coal. It is a rich and compelling story, so why not discover it for yourself by downloading our free self-guided heritage trails. These walks take in some of the city's most iconic landmarks and places of interest, including Penshaw Monument, St Peter's Church and the Queen Alexandra Bridge.

There's also a free interactive Sunderland Riverside Heritage Trail app (opens new window) to download which focuses on the heritage of the River Wear.

A host of free to download walking routes are available courtesy of the Viewranger walking app.

Simply download the app to your mobile device and under the people search, look for "Active Sunderland". Here you will get access to dozens of walking routes across the city, allowing you to discover Sunderland's fascinating history at your own leisure.