DURHAM fans seeking an attractive away trip next season will be delighted to know that they are to pay their first four-day visit to Arundel Castle.

Created in 1895 by the 15th Duke of Norfolk, the ground is renowned as one of the most picturesque in the country and will stage the LV County Championship match against Sussex on July 18-21.

It follows hard on the heels of another of the season's highlights, the four-day match at Worcester on July 10-13, while the two trips to London are also back-to-back.

In fact, in the usual congested opening, Durham have three away championship matches in 16 days with the trip to Lord's (April 19-22) followed after a three-day break by Surrey at the Oval before taking on Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Durham begin their 21st season of first class cricket by hosting Durham University, starting on Friday, April 6, followed by their opening championship match at home to Nottinghamshire.

Other than Arundel, Durham's only visit to an outground will be to Colwyn Bay, where they face Glamorgan in their opening Clydesdale Bank 40 game on June 10.

With half the 16-match championship programme completed by then, the Friends Life Twenty20 matches, reduced to ten next season, will be played in one batch between June 15 and July 8.

In addition to hosting an England v Australia one-day international on July 7 and the visit of South Africa for a T20 international on September 8, the Emirates Durham ICG will also welcome Australia A for a three day match against Durham, starting on August 1.

Unless they again reach the CB semi-finals, Durham's only cricket in September will be the four-day visit of Sussex, starting on the 11th.

Full membership for the 2012 season will cost £175 for new members and £150 for existing ones. It includes the option to purchase a Friends Life t20 season ticket for £30.

For non-members T20 season tickets for the five home games are priced at £50 for adults and £15 for juniors.

Tickets for the T20 international on September 8 go on sale to the general public from 9am on Thursday through the Box Office on 0844 499 4466 or online.

Durham's head groundsman, Dave Measor, has been named joint runner-up in the four day category of the 2011 Groundsman of the Year awards.

Measor said: "I had been keeping a running total of our scores over the season and I knew that we had done better than before. But I certainly didn't know that would place us in the top three four-day pitches in the country.

"The pitches are improving year on year and our hard work is definitely paying off. It's really great having a team that know what they're doing working with you.

"It was a strange season weather-wise. The forecasts were so changeable that in some cases plans just had to go out the window and that is where our experience came in handy."

Ben Stokes was named Sports Personality of the Year at the Cumbria Sports Awards, held at the Low Wood Hotel, Windermere.

Durham Fixtures 2012

APRIL
6 Durham MCCU, Emirates Durham ICG (UNI)
12 Nottinghamshire, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
19 Middlesex, Lords (LVCC1)
26 Surrey, The Kia Oval (LVCC1)
MAY
2 Warwickshire, Edgbaston (LVCC1)
9 Somerset, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
13 Somerset, Emirates Durham ICG (CB40)
20 Surrey, The Kia Oval (CB40)
22 Somerset, Taunton (LVCC1)
27 Scotland, Emirates Durham ICG (CB40)
30 Lancashire, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
JUNE
3 Nottinghamshire, Emirates Durham ICG (CB40)
5 Warwickshire, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
10 Glamorgan, Colwyn Bay (CB40)
15 Yorkshire, Headingley Carnegie (T20)
17 Nottinghamshire, Emirates Durham ICG (T20)
20 Derbyshire, TBC (T20)*
22 Yorkshire, Emirates Durham ICG (T20)
25 Lancashire, Old Trafford (T20)*
27 Derbyshire, Emirates Durham ICG (T20)
29 Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge (T20)
JULY
1 Leicestershire, Emirates Durham ICG (T20)
6 Leicestershire, Grace Road (T20)
8 Lancashire, Emirates Durham ICG (T20)
10 Worcestershire, New Road (LVCC1)
15 Hampshire, The Rose Bowl (CB40)
18 Sussex, Arundel (LVCC1)
22 Somerset, Taunton (CB40)
27 Middlesex, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
AUGUST
1 Australia A, Emirates Durham ICG (TOM 3)
5 Scotland, TBC (CB40)
7 Surrey, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
11 Surrey, Emirates Durham ICG (CB40)
12 Glamorgan, Emirates Durham ICG (CB40)
15 Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge (LVCC1)
19 Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge (CB40)
21 Worcestershire, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)
27 Hampshire, Emirates Durham ICG (CB40)
28 Lancashire, Old Trafford (LVCC1)
SEPTEMBER
11 Sussex, Emirates Durham ICG (LVCC1)