A-Walking: Teesdale Treats

Our three walks this weekend (14th March) were each conducted in the Teesdale area of County Durham. The A-Walk set off from the viewing point on the B6282 road near Heatherlea. The B-Walk started from Eggleston while the C-Walk commenced at Egglesburn. All walks finished in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

From the lay-by on the B6282 {NY 977 248}, the intent of the A-Walk was to visit Eggleston, Cotherstone (twice), Romaldkirk and Mickleby before arriving at our destination in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

We set off from the B6282 road at about 11.00 am. There were 8 people in the group: JB, JPB, PB, RB, KF, CH. LM and WM. WM led the walk.

We left the viewing area on the B6282 road using a north-easterly path that took us towards Bell Brook Farm on the road that passes through Foggerthwaite {NY 983 249}.


Maintaining our easterly bearing, we crossed Eggleston Beck at {NY 989 248} and then climbed up to Eggleshope House {NY 995 241} and the minor road that lay beyond it. We followed this to its junction with the B6278 road {NY 999 240}. Now turning right, we trekked along this road towards Eggleston.

At {NY 999 239} we turned onto a southerly bearing and walked down through the village in order to reach the B6282 road {NY 999 236}. At this point we turned left onto a south-easterly bearing. We stayed with the road until we reached a footpath at {NZ 001 235}. Now moving in a south-easterly direction we followed the path to West Barnley {NZ 005 230} and then, on the same bearing, to East Barnley {NZ 008 222}.

At East Barnley Farm, we joined the route of the Teesdale Way (TW) long-distance footpath and followed this in a southerly direction to Shipley Wood {NZ 011 210}. We continued along the TW and crossed the River Tees and the River Balder in close succession. We stopped on the bank near Cotherstone at {NZ 013 200} for our lunch break - overlooking the two rivers that we had just crossed.


After lunch we continued along the TW, now following the west bank of the River Tees in a south-easterly direction. At Cooper House {NZ 023 191} we left the Teesdale Way by turning right onto a westerly bearing that took us into Mire Lane. We followed this into Cotherstone {NZ 012 193} and continued on our westerly trek across lots of narrow fields until we reached Cuckoo {NY 993 190} where we turned right onto a northerly bearing.

From Cuckoo we navigated a route to North Corn Park {NY 992 195} and then crossed the River Balder using the footbridge at {NY 992 200}. Maintaining our northerly bearing we then made our way to a minor road at {NY 994 207}. From here we followed the route of the Tees Railway Walk along the dismantled railway in order to reach Romaldkirk {NY 994 220} where we had a short tea stop.

After our very short break, we made our way back onto the dismantled railway at {NY 992 220} and followed it in a north-westerly direction to {NY 972 232}. At this point we changed onto a northerly direction in order to make our way to the small village of Mickelton {NY 974 236}. From here we made our way to Beckstones Wath Bridge {NY 976 242} which we used to cross over the River Tees.


After crossing the river, we turned left along its north bank in order to rejoin the Teesdale Way at {NY 976 246}. We now followed this (with all its ups and downs) along the edge of the River Tees until we reached {NY 961 248}. At this point we turned right and made our way to a farm access track just beyond Leekworth {NY 959 249}. We followed this track in a north-westerly direction to reach the B6282 road at {NY 951 253}. From here we had just a short trek into the centre of Middleton-in-Teesdale {NY 948 254} where our coach was waiting to take us home.

Many thanks to WM for organising such an interesting and exciting adventure for us today. We had a really great time. Use the buttons below to see where we went, how we did and some of the sights we saw.

    

---