For years the fabled black diamond fuelled the local economy and took the north east from a poor outpost of England to a regional powerhouse that lit the fire of the industrial revolution. The saying “taking coals to Newcastle” was a pun based on the prevalence of the fuel in the area. The precious cargo was dug up in countless mines across the region and transported to the rivers which were teaming with boats on their travels. One of the main lines used in this transportation was the track from Crawleyside Bank all the way the the Staithes on the Tyne. It’s a marvel of engineering in a time before computers. Nowadays it’s known as the Derwent Walk and the Waskerley Way and forms part of the C2C route for riders and is a very popular walking track.