8.24 miles.
Explorer Map No OL31 - North Pennines
An extended version of a walk described
in "Waterfall Walks in Teesdale and the High Pennines" by
Mary Welsh.
The walk can be a little bit rugged, and use of a map and compass is
essential.
There is a steep descent, and a very steep ascent, when you cross the
Flushiemere Beck.
West of Broadley's Gate Farm, we managed to get significantly lost by
NOT following a compass bearing and found ourselves having a strenuous
time walking though thick bog grass for about one mile.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start from the picnic area at Bowlees,
NY9077228276.
From the Visitor Centre take the footpath due North with woodland to
your right.
Continue North, descending into Causeway Sike and then climbing out
again.
At NY906293 take the (indistinct) footpath East to descend to where
Wester Beck meets Flushiemere Beck. The descent is relatively steep,
but the ascent East from Flushiemere Beck follows a very steep route.
Take the footpath NNW from NY909293 to descend once again to Flushiemere
Beck, and then ascend to Broadley's Gate Farm.
North of the farm, follow the footpath due West. From the field gate
at NY902298 make sure that you follow a bearing of 265 degrees West.
Otherwise, it is easy to follow what appears to be a path, but which
turns out to be a sheeptrack heading in the wrong direction.
From Ashdub Farm follow the farm track down to the settlement of Dirt
Pit, then take the footpath SW to the High Force Hotel.
Cross the main road, and on your left you will find a recently opened
footpath leading down to the River Tees.
Cross the Tees by the nearby footbridge, and follow the the South Bank
past Low Force and the Wynch Bridge to the footbridge at NY911273.
Cross the Tees and take the footpath to the hamlet of Newbiggin. From
here, follow the road and footpath to Hood Gill and back to the Bowlees
picnic area.