8.9 miles.
Explorer Map OL31, - North Pennines, Teesdale and Weardale.
If you chosse a sunny day, the views on this walk are
incomparable. Even on a dull, overcast day the views are still rewarding.
The walk uses roads, farm tracks, and farm footpaths and there is some
moorland walking.
However, the moorland walking is relatively straightforward, and providing
that you have a compass should present few problems.
There is some climbing to be done, but there is nothing unduly taxing
about the walk.
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 Dales Centre in Stanhope (free car park)
at NY99569 39277.
Head east to the Market Place, and then go down Butts Lane to find the
footpath that runs North of the River Wear, crossing the railway tracks.
Follow the footpath until you come to a minor road that runs uphill
for a short distance. At the T-junction, turn left. Just past the cottages
in Railway Terrace take the footpath on your right to Parson Byers Farm.
At the Farm, take the footpath South Eastwards over fields, to meet
a farm tarck at NZ007 369.
Here, turn right and follow the track to Ridding House Farm.
Just past the farm buildings take the track over fields and rough pasture
to join the Weardale Way as it ascends uphill towards Bollihope Common.
Where the footpath meets a gate at the top of the ascent, turn left
through the gate and follow the wall (on your left) for about 200 yards.
Where the footpath meets another section of wall, continue East for
about 25 yards, and then head almost due South over a faint footpath.
THis footpath will eventually take you down to the Bollihope Burn, where
a road crosses the Burn.
Don't cross the Burn, but turn left and follow a track past some caravans,
heading Eastwards.
Just before Mill Cottage the track ascends steeply uphill past some
more caravans, to meet the road ay High Bishopley.
Turn right, and follow the road to Hill End.
At Hill End look for a footpath sign between two houses, and follow
the track downhill to Dryburn Side Farm and then Peak Field Farm.
At Peak Field Farm, cross the stream by the footbridge, then immediately
turn left and follow the footpath North Westwards to the farm track
at NZ007 369.
Retrace your steps to Parson Byers Farm.
At Parson Byers Farm, take the footpath North West to Bushy Flat Farm,
and continue to eventually meet the B6278 road.
Descend, using the road (GREAT CARE, TRAFFIC) to retrun to Stanhope.