A CITY'S churchyards will be examined on a guided historical walk today.

Durham County Council's new autumn and winter season of guided walks begins with the four-mile tour, Churchyards with Verse, led by geographer and geologist Maurice Holliday.

The retired headteacher will lead walkers around graveyards at several of Durham's older places of worship, looking at the notable people buried there and the changing style of headstones.

He will also examine verse written about churches during the course of the trek.

Walkers should meet outside the gates of Durham Castle, on Palace Green, for a 10am start, with the tour taking in St Oswald's, St Cuthbert's CE, St Godric's and St Margaret's.

It is the first of 65 walks covering more than 400 miles of County Durham.

They include a ten-mile walk of medium difficulty in the Derwent Valley.

Led by voluntary countryside ranger Bill Gallon, the walk starts at Lintzford lay-by on the A694, on Wednesday, October 20, at 10am.

Copies of the guided walks programme are available from libraries and tourist information centres in County Durham, or from the county council, on 0191-383 4144.

Tickets, unless specified, are available on the day for £2, with a £1 concessionary charge.

Details about the walks can also be viewed by logging on to the what's on section of the county council website at www.durham. gov.uk