8.85 miles.

Explorer Maps OL31, - North Pennines

This is a walk that takes in some VERY well trodden paths in a highly scenic area. The walk beside the River Tees between Cotherstone and Romaldkirk is deservedly popular.
The section of the walk from Romaldkirk to Cotherstone starts out on the Tees Rail Trail and is straightforward. However, where the path leaves the rail trail, use of the Ordnance Survey to help you find farm footpaths and tracks very much helps.
There is one fairly steep descent down to the River Tees at Cotherstone, but otherwise no gradients to be concerned about.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!

The start of the walk is from the roadside by Cotherstone's parish church (NZ01210 19334). There is very limited parking here, and you may decide to find another convenient spot in the village.
Head along the road back to Barnard Castle for about 50 yards, and take the signposted track on your left (Mire Lane).
Just before Cooper House, turn left and then follow the waymarks along the Teesdale Way to the Balder Bridge (where the Balder flows into the River Tees at Cotherstone).
Continue along nthe Teesdale Way to Romaldkirk, passing Woden Croft Farm about half way along.
In Romaldkirk, take the minor road to Barnard Castle for a short distance, and then turn right down the minor road to Hunderthwaite.
On your left you will find the Tees Railway Walk. Follow this to shortly before the bridge that crosses the River Balder.
Here turn right along the field footpath, then farm track, that leads to West End Farm.
Just before the first field wall that the farm track passes through, head downhill across the field towards the footbridge over the River Balder. Cross, and continue to the road at Osmond Bridge.
Here turn right and after about 100 yards take the farm track that leads to High Corn Park Farm.
Either continue on the track to High Corn Park Farm, or take the footpath to Booze Wood Farm.
From either of these farms, find the footpath across the moorland that takes toy to the Butter Stone.
At the Butter Stone take the road towards Cotherstone. At Lance Bridge, take the signposted footpath that takes you back to Cotherstone over fields (and crossing the Tees Railway Walk).
In Cotherstone, return to the parish church.