11.8 miles
Explorer Map OL31, - North Pennines (Teesdale & Weardale)
Although the walk starts out along the Tees Rail Trail which
is clear and VERY easy to follow, the rest of the walk makes use
of farm and moorland footpaths which may not be all that clear
at times. There is a distinct lack of footpath signs to help the
walker.
For this reason, it is essential to have the 1 : 25,000 map to
hand, and to also have a compass or satellite navigation device
to hand.
One section of the route crosses open moorland, where it is tempting
to follow a track rather than follow a compass bearing. Doing
this can take you SERIOUSLY off course!
With these words of warning in mind, the walk offers some stunning
views of a day of good visibility which well repay the effort.
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 available 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!!
Start from the centre of Romaldkirk (NZ99508 22087),
- several places for parking, though exercise consideration for those
who live in the village.
Head out from the village along the road to Cotherstone, then take
the road to Hunderthwaite and Hury. A short way along this road, the
Tees Railway Walk is clearly indicated. Follow the Railway Walk for
over a mile in the direction of Cotherstone. After crossing the Balder
viaduct, you then cross a minor road near West Park Farm.
Two fields along the Railway Walk from this point, on your right,
is a farm gate. Pass through this gate to follow a track in the direction
of East Cote Park Farm. Near the farm, head South (and slightly uphill
across a field) to a gate, where you turn right to follow vague footpaths
to Cuckoo Farm, - eventually passing to the South of High Corn Park
Farm.
Just past this farm there are a pair of footpath signposts.
Follow a bearing of about 260 degrees across the moor, - DO NOT follow
the track.
If you follow the above bearing, you will come out near the How Beck.
THis beck takes a bit of care in crossing.
From the beck, head North to West Briscoe, and then along the road
(very short distance) to the Hury Reservoir Southern car park.
Cross the dam of the reservoir to the North side.
Follow the resrvoir footpath along the edge of the reservoir to the
"inlet" opposite East New Houses Farm. At this "inlet",
continue to the minor road, and then turn right.
Follow the road to Howgill Bridge, near Hury.
From here take the farm footpath that heads almost due East to Lanquittes
Farm, and then onwards to West End Farm.
To follow this footpath, you need to use the 1 : 25,000 map, as there
are precious few waymarks to help you.
At West End Farm, follow the farm track back to the Tees Railway Walk,
and then back Northwards to Romaldkirk.