Leisure

Badminton Club

The Badminton and Table Tennis Club runs on a weekly basis in the village hall on Tuesday evenings, 7.45pm - 9.45pm. 
The hall has one full-size badminton court, allowing for doubles matches, and a table tennis table set up for players to enjoy whilst waiting to play on the badminton court. 

At present, the club is open only to adults resident in the village due to restrictions on space, but players of all abilities are welcome and membership costs £2 per session. Shuttlecocks are provided, but please bring along a racket if you have one; we have a couple of spares, if not! For more information, please contact Jon Turner (jon_turner2006@hotmail.co.uk). 

Knit and Natter

The Knit and Natter group continues to go from strength to strength since it began in 2013. Knitters (and natterers) meet on the first Tuesday of the month, from 2pm - 4pm, at The Cross Keys. The group is for all levels and is convened by Margaret Sands, who is happy to answer questions from anyone who is interested in joining. Wool and needles are provided, so whether you're a seasoned professional, or can't tell one end of a knitting needle from the other, we look forward to welcoming you to the group!  

Gospel Choir

Bringing some rhythm and soul to Esh is the newly-launched Gospel Choir. The choir is open to everyone: there are no auditions and no previous experience is necessary to join. Rehearsals take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 7.00 - 8.30pm, in the Village Hall. So do come along and bring your clapping and snapping fingers!

 For more information, contact Steve Bradley (mob. 07891 752 459; email: s.p.bradley@durham.ac.uk). 

Esh Parish Walk

The Esh Parish walk commences at Langley Park, which is located 5 miles west of Durham and is accessible from the A691 Durham to Consett road.

Esh Hill Top Cottage

The walk is about 7 miles long and takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Apart from a steep climb near the beginning, it is not strenuous and takes in some beautiful views and prominent local buildings including Ushaw College, and Esh Hall. The route is waymarked with yellow circular walk arrows and there are also 'Public Footpath' fingerposts at junctions with public roads. The route passes through working farms and along farm tracks and can be muddy in places. You can find a detailed description of the walk by clicking here. Organised village walks take place on Rogation Sunday (5th May 2013) and on New Year's Day. 

Esh Luncheon Club

The Luncheon Club meets at The Cross Keys pub every second Tuesday of the month from 12.00pm until 1.30pm. The Club is open to all Esh residents and costs £5.99 for two courses (choose from starter, main, and/ or dessert). To find out when the next Club takes place, please visit the Village Calendar.

Langley Park 

Allotment Association

The Langley Park Allotment Association (LPAA) has taken over the day to day running of the allotment sites at Crossfell and Earl of Durham and work has begun to make sure that all the plots are filled and being used and maintained appropriately. The Association is open to anyone living in Esh Parish, and

membership costs £1.00 per year. 

The LPAA is based in the brick building behind Garden Avenue, Langley Park, at the north west end of the Cricket Pitch, and is open on Saturdays, 9.00 - 11.00am and Mondays 1.00 - 2.00pm. 

The Association buys supplies in bulk for the benefit of members, and sells good quality compost, grow bags, lawn weed and feed, blood fish and bone, tomato feed, weedkiller and paraffin for greenhouse heaters at lower-than-average prices. 

To enquire

about becoming a member of the Association and to put your name on the waiting list for plots, email: lpallotments2@gmail.com or telephone:

Terry Taylor (0191) 3731109
Karen Dobbin 07930 177475
Bev Coult 07538 822449

Women's Institute

The Esh Leaves WI meets every second Monday of the month at 7.30pm in the Esh C of E school hall. The WI is the largest 

voluntary women’s organisation in the UK, and plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. Esh WI's forthcoming meetings are listed in the Village Calendar. For more information, pop along to the next meeting, or email Gillian Wesson at gillianwesson[at]hotmail.co.uk, or telephone 0191 373 1321. 

Esh Sewing Circle

Whether you're a finger-pricking novice, a deft darner of socks, or a closet couturier, everyone is welcome to come along to the Esh Sewing circle, which meets every third Tuesday of the month, from 2-4pm, in The Cross Keys.