The Grey Panthers

Explorer Map OL31, - North Pennines (Teesdale and Weardale)

If you have some good weather, this is a highly rewarding walk as there are some sensational views to be had.
The first part of the walk takes you from Middleton-in-Teesdale along farm footpaths and the Tees Railway Walkway to Grassholme Reservoir. Navigation is reasonably straightforward, though we found that it very much helped to follow field patterns using a 1 : 25000 OS map.
The footpath beside Grassholme Reservoir and onwards to Selset Reservoir is very easy to follow.
From Selset Reservoir there is then a steady climb uphill, first to the roadway and then to Crossthwaite Common. The route over Crossthwaite common follows the Pennine Way and there are plenty of waymarks for guidance.
Crossthwaite Common is at a height of over 400 metres, and this should be taken into account as regards cloting, - it may be warm and sunny in Middleton, but can be exposed and cool on the fell.

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 web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from Middleton-in-Teesdale (car park by the Bainbridge fountain, NY94763 25391.
Head South out of Middleton, crossing the River Tees by the roasd bridge. Immeditaely on your left is a stile that drops you down to the field footpath beside the River Tees. Follow the footpath to the hamlet of Lonton.
When you reach the road in Lonton, turn left then after a short distance turn right as directed by the finger post to the Tees Railway walkway.
Follow the walkway to the Lune River Viaduct. Turn right on the farm road on crossing the viaduct.
After two fields, take the farm track on your left, and past the farm buildings follow the waymarked footpath towards Grassholme reservoir. We found it helpful to use the OS 1:25000 map to follow this footpath.
When the footpath meets the road, turn right and continue to the reservoir's Visitor Centre.
From here, take the footpath that follows the Southern shore of the rsservoir. Continue on the footpath and farm road until you come to Selset Reservoir dam.
Cross the dam and head up the reservoir access road to the Middleton-in-Teesdale - Brough road.
Turn right and walk along this road for a few hundred yards.
Join the Pennine Way footpath on the access road to Wythes Hill Farm.
From the farm, follow the waymarks and signs that direct you along the Pennine Way over Crossthwaite Common.
The return to Middleton-in-Teesdale from the common is starightfowards, though involves a long, gradual, descent.