9.24 miles.
Explorer Map OL31 - North Pennines (Teesdale and Weardale)
A walk with dramatic views which is best made in good
weather, with reasonably high visibility. Although the walk could probably
me made at any time of the year, a day should be chosen when there is
reasonable visibility in order to get the most from this walk.
Another bonus is the flora and fauna to be seen in late Spring, up on
Cronley Fell, where preservation measures are being taken to conserve
the bird life and wild flowers associated with the sugar limestone geology
of the area.
Ascending Cronkley Fell involves a moderately strenuous climb, up the
Green Trod footpath.
There is a similary tricky descent down to the River Tees from the top
of Cronkley Fell.
Possibly the most difficult section, however, is a small section of
the footpath which descends to the River Tees beside a stone boundary
wall. This proved to be surprisingly tricky to descend whilst keeping
one's footing.
Otherwise the walk is very straightforward.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Park at the public car park / picnic area by the High Force Hotel. (NY886
286).
Cross the Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston road, turn left, and a few yards
downhill is a footpath that takes you down to the River Tees. Continue
downstream along the river bank until you come to a footbridge.
Cross the footbridge and turn right.
You are now on the Pennine Way which takes you past High Force (on your
right), and up a small hill (Bracken Rigg) about one mile further along.
Just past this small hill, at NY861 283, there is a stone post set in
the ground which indicates the Pennine Way continuing to the right, and
the Green Trod footpath (GT) branching off to the left.
Turn left at this point and follow the well worn broad path downhill until
you come to the easily recognised Green Trod. Here head Westward to ascend
Cronkley Fell.
Continue along the same clearly marked footpath (cairns beside the track)
to then descend to the River Tees.
Turn right to follow the river bank footpath, to High House Farm and Cronkley
Pasture.
Cross the River Tees by the footbridge at NY862 293.
From here, take the footpath South to Hill End Farm, Low Knott Farm, West
Force Garth Farm and finally East Garth Force Farm.
Just past this latter farm, there is a metalled road used by quarry traffic
that takes you back to the Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston road. When
you reach this road, turn right and walk along the pavement to reach the
High Force Hotel again.