8.4 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map No 31 - North Pennines, Teesdale and Weardale
This walk can be found in the book
"The North Pennines" by Alan Hall as walk No 27.
The walk takes in the Coldberry Gutter, a massive "hush" used
by the lead miners of the nineteenth century. The walk also takes in
the Coldberry Mine (one of the largest in the area) and the Skears Lime
Kilns.
The walk is best undertaken in fine weather, - simply because the views
leaving Middleton, and the views from the top, are so stupendous. Pity
to miss them.
Walking UP the Coldberry Gutter presents no problems, but the descent
in the West-East direction is over very uneven and fairly steep ground
and needs a bit of care.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
The start of the walk is from the centre of Middleton-in-Tees, NY9481225409.
Leave Middleton along the B6277 heading West, and immediately after crossing
the Hudeshope Beck take the minor road leading to Stable Edge. Follow
this all the way until the footpath sign at the entrance to the quarry,
- NY919279. Follow the footpath North along a broad track, through several
fields.
At NZ9208228948 continue along the broad track in a North Easterly direction
to reach the Coldberry Gutter. Ascend the Gutter.
At the "summit" of the Gutter there is a wire fence which can
be crossed using a metal gate a few yards up the hill to your right.
Descend the Coldberry Gutter WITH CARE. The ground is very uneven and
somewhat steep. Keep to the right hand side of the Gutter.
When you see an ancient stone aqueduct, follow its route to the right
until you see a clear way down to the Coldberry Mine, NY9417528978.
Follow tracks down from the Coldberry Mine to the road over the Hudeshope
Beck at NY9442129299.
Continue East to the footpath sign opposite Lodge Sike Farm.
Follow this path South back to Middleton-in-Teesdale.