Stockton West John Walker's Walk, family walk instructions

The start point is the lovely bandstand located at the centre of Ropner Park. Walk towards the lake passing the café on your right, perhaps stopping off for a coffee at the café operated by the Friends of Ropner Park and next to the playground.

Walk down the hill and turn right walking around the lake in an anti-clockwise direction. On the way you might want to feed the ducks and stop and read a little bit about Sir Robert Ropner and his contribution to the shipping industry. Top tip, bring duck food - the good stuff mind you as these ducks are fussy!

Halfway round you may want to stop and have a photograph taken on the tree that looks as if it was made just to sit on. After doing a full loop around the lake - watching out for the owl, go back up the hill and turn left, you will pass one of the old Park Keepers Lodges.

Turn right to continue on the path around the edge of the park, passing the Bowling Club on your right. Keep your eye open for the Fish Eating Bird sculpture or is it the Bird Eating Fish? You decide.

Continue on the path turning right at the edge of the park to leave the park by the main gated entrance. Cross over Hartburn Lane turning right to follow the road down, around the bend towards West End Bowling Club.

Just before the entrance you will see a cycle track on your left. Walk along this track taking you through Six Fields. You are now on the old railway line and will pass the Bricky (Hartburn Brick Pond) on your left. There are little tracks taking you to the Bricky if you decide to stop and take a look, it's well worth it. Be careful as the water is deep and the path can be a little bit overgrown or slippy when wet.

Keep going along the track and you will reach the underpass at the A66 on your left. Turn right and walk along the public footpath. You will see the roofs of the houses and the exit out of Six Fields ahead of you.

There is a small footbridge that is quite narrow, cross over this and continue along the path through the fields which brings you to a gate into Quebec Road.

Can you find our John Walker metal tin? If you have the 'What3words' app search for 'lions.fled.chairs' to find the location. If not, look for a Canadian city sign and see what's behind!

If you find the tin, make sure you log your name and the date you found it. Read the poem and perhaps - inspired by the walk, think of ways you could contribute.

Continue the walk by going straight ahead onto Fraser Road and turn right into Hartburn Village and walk past the Church on your left. You could stop and read the memorial stone.

You will leave the village with the Stockton Arms on your left and The Village Deli on your right. Turn right and head back up Darlington Road towards the West End Bowling Club.

Cross the road here and look for the cycle track on your left that goes ever so slightly up hill. You are now on the old Cuckoo Railway. Keep going along the shaded track until you reach a point where a couple of cycle paths cross over each other.

Turn right taking you onto Kilburn Road. Take the path on the left walking alongside a small beck, crossing a bridge and towards the main road.

Turn right onto Hartburn Avenue and walk along the road back towards one of the small gates that lead you back into Ropner Park on the opposite side of the road.