High Force is one of the most impressive waterfalls in England. The River Tees has been plunging into this gorge for thousands of years but the rocks it reveals are far more ancient — with origins dating back over million years!
From its rise as a trickle, high on the heather covered fells at the top of the North Pennines, to the top of the whin sill rock at Forest-in-Teesdale, the River Tees steadily grows and gathers pace, then it suddenly and spectacularly drops 21 metres into the plunge pool below. A gentle and pretty woodland walk leads you to view this spectacular sight at the base of the falls. There are plenty of places to sit in quiet contemplation surrounded by the sound of cascading water.
Look for the white breast of the dipper bobbing in and out of the water searching for food or the buzzard soaring above your head. The old limestone quarry contains many limestone-loving wildflowers, including seven species of orchids, knapweed and wild thyme. These plants attract butterflies and other insects, which are prey for magnificent dragonflies. Access: Car parking, Disabled, Public transport, Pushchair. Accessible toilets, Cafe, Toilets. Recreation opportunity: Bird watching, Picnicking, Walking.
Bowlees Visitor Centre. The Centre provides information and displays on the geology and landscape, wildlife and people of Upper Teesdale and the wider North Pennines. You'll find a delicious range of food and drinks and our shop stocks nature inspired gifts and books. You'll find a range of special events are running at the Centre throughout the year. You can also hire the venue for family get-togethers, parties and meetings.
We have a range of outdoor cooking facilities which can be pre-booked. The Centre is dog-friendly and you'll find free Wi-Fi access, an iGlass hour information touch screen and an electric car-charging point. Accessible toilets, Cafe, Shop, Toilets. External link: Bowlees Visitor Centre. This is a great place for professional and amateur astronomers to stargaze. Durham, DL12 0XF. Note that this electric bike route was originally devised in It is still valid but some of the information e.
Distance: 27 km. Access: Car parking, Cycle parking. Interests: Panoramic views. This fantastic walk starts in Middleton-in-Teesdale, explores the Hudeshope Valley and then makes its way over the tops to Forest-in-Teesdale. The Challenge Walks www. For detailed walk directions click the link below. Distance: 26 km. Recreation opportunity: Walking. Distance: 17 km. Cow Green Geological Trail.
The trail will introduce many of the rocks which make the Teesdale landscape so special and which make the dale a haven for rare and interesting plants. Do examine the rocks, minerals and plants you will see along the way but please do not collect them: leave them for others to enjoy. Distance: 8 km. Recreation opportunity: Nature watching, Walking. External link: North Pennines Geology and Landscape. Cow Green Reservoir is also one of best wild brown trout fisheries in the country.
Turn left onto a small road signposted Cow Green Reservoir and continue along here for approximately 2 miles to a car park. Cronkley Scar - Gold Challenge Walk 2. Distance: 30 km. Crossthwaite Common - Silver Challenge Walk 2. Fantastic walk starting in Middleton-in-Teesdale crossing the wilds of Crossthwaite Common.
Discover Mid Teesdale - routes to walk, cycle and ride. Mid Teesdale sits between the two market towns of Middleton and Barnard Castle. The River Tees meanders its way through this beautiful dale, which is surrounded by the high moorland of the North Pennines.
The area has a wealth of history and nature waiting to be explored, with attractive villages from which to base your visit. This publication will help you to discover the area and its main settlements at a leisurely pace, with six routes for walking, cycling and horse riding. Access: Car parking, Cycle parking, Public transport. Accessible toilets, Cafe, Playground, Pub, Toilets. Recreation opportunity: Cycling, Horse riding, Walking.
External link: Teesdale. Egglesburn Wood. This woodland came into Durham County Council ownership when the sand and gravel quarry closed in the mid s. Since that time the trees have seeded into the quarry and we now have mixed broadleaved woodland. Eggleston Burn runs along the western edge beside the old sand quarry. In the summer sand martins nest in the cliff face and can be seen from the bottom path.
Other birds to watch out for are dippers and birds of prey such as red kite and buzzard. Deer and badger occasionally stray through the wood and many rabbits burrow through the soft sandy soil.
Every now and then an otter is sighted on its journey along the river. There are fantastic views over Teesdale and Mickle Fell, which, standing at m, is the highest hill in County Durham.
The entrance is next to Egglesburn bridge. There is limited parking at the entrance. Interests: Rivers, Wildlife, Woods. Eggleton to Romaldkirk - Silver Challenge Walk 3. Location: Start from the fountain in the centre of Middleton-in-Teesdale. Distance: 15 km. Interests: Rivers. Grassholme Reservoir. Grassholme is firmly established as one of the top any method fisheries in the country, lying in the picturesque rolling pasture land of upper Teesdale.
With four miles of bank space and many inlets and bays it offers a great variety of fishing. Grassholme also enjoys the luxury of its own local fish farm.
Grassholme is suitable for disabled anglers and visitors. Environment Agency rod licences are also on sale at the fishery. There is a circular footpath around the lake providing magnificent views across the water and a pleasant picnicking area next to the visitor centre for you to relax at.
Turn off at the western end of the village, sign posted Grassholme Reservoir. The trout fishery is roughly a mile up the road on the right. Access: Car parking, Disabled. Accessible toilets, Shop, Toilets.
Recreation opportunity: Fishing. Grassholme Reservoir - Silver Challenge Walk 4. This walk is a grand circuit of Grassholme Reservoir starting from Middleton-in-Teesdale. Interests: Reservoirs. Designated as a Dark Sky Discovery Site, Grassholme Reservoir has been recognised for the stunning quality of its night skies. Access to the reservoir for stargazing is only available during organised events see www.
Grassholme is also firmly established as one of the top 'any method fisheries' in the country. Turn off at the western end of the village, signposted Grassholme Reservoir. The main car park is roughly a mile up the road on the right.
Shop, Toilets. Hamsterley - Gold Challenge Walk 3. This long circular walk from Middleton-in-Teesdale takes you up to Hamsterley Forest and back. Location: The walk starts from the fountain in the centre of Middleton-in-Teesdale. External link: Hamsterley - Gold Challenge Walk 3. Hamsterley Forest. County Durham's largest forest is a mixture of woodland, meadows and forest.
There are excellent walking, cycling and horse riding trails for all abilities. The forest also has a childrens' adventure playground, tea room, cycle hire, shop and downhill mountain bike course. Access: Car parking, Cycle parking, Disabled, Pushchair. Accessible toilets, Cafe, Playground, Shop, Toilets. Interests: Panoramic views, Wildlife, Woods. External link: Hamsterley Forest. Hamsterley Forest - Black Trail. This is the most strenuous and technically challenging waymarked mountain bike trail in Hamsterley Forest.
It sports steep technical climbs, smooth contouring single track and some superb rooty descents. This character stays with the trail for its entire length and boasts some great natural riding that will challenge even the best cross country bikers.
It starts from the forest drive just beyond the visitor centre. Distance: 11 km. External link: Black Trail - Hamsterley Forest. Hamsterley Forest - Blue Trail. This mountain bike trail provides you with the ideal opportunity to explore Hamsterley Forest at a leisurely pace. The first stretch to Grove House is on a wide, purpose built cycle trail, before joining the Forest Drive to Blackling Hole.
This stretch and the return through the forest to the Grove, is all on loose surfaced forest road. Please exercise caution when cycling on forest roads as this is shared with other users, including timber lorries. The last two miles is on the tarmac section of the Forest Drive. Distance: 14 km. External link: Blue Trail - Hamsterley Forest. Hamsterley Forest - Doctors Gate. Doctors Gate is a The route should be tackled clockwise - start off by going along the Grove Link.
There are more road miles on this route than ideal for a mountain bike ride but the blast down the Weardale Way and the descent into the forest make up for this. Distance: 35 km. External link: Doctors Gate.
Hamsterley Forest - Eggleston Moors. Starting in Hamsterley Forest this lollipop-shaped mountain bike route takes you across the moors to Eggleston and back.
Best ridden on a dry day when there has been a dry spell beforehand! External link: Eggleston Moors - Hamsterley Forest. Hamsterley Forest - Red Trail. A mountain bike trail for real adventurers who want to spend the day exploring the further reaches of Hamsterley Forest. The route follows the Blue Trail to the Grove before heading into the wider forest on a mixture of forest road and singletrack. Superb views await at the top of the forest overlooking Eggleston Moor before returning to the Grove via the Euden Beck on breathtaking stretches of singletrack.
Distance: 22 km. External link: Red Trail - Hamsterley Forest. Hamsterley Forest - Skills Loop. This is a purpose built mountain bike training loop. It is designed with skill development in mind to push your mountain biking to a new level. The Loop contains a multitude of features and riding options, some built in stone to mimic natural trails and others from timber in the North Shore style.
Each feature has a skills tips board containing information to help perfect your technique. When you reach the bottom you can either exit The Loop or go back to the top via the climb trail.
The training loop is aimed at anybody confident at riding Blue Grade trail or above, but beware it contains features of all grades from Blue to Black. External link: Skill Loop - Hamsterley Forest.
Hamsterley Half Century. The Hamsterley Half Century is a 50km Distance: 50 km. External link: The Hamsterley Half Century. Hamsterley Packhorse Trail - Horse. It's a ride of contrasts - in the forest and out over the open moor. Accessible toilets, Cafe, Playground, Toilets. Interests: Industrial heritage, Panoramic views, Woods.
Hamsterley Packhorse Trail - Mountain Biking. Hamsterley Trail Guide. Access: Car parking, Cycle parking, Pushchair. External link: Hamsterley Forest Trail Guide.
Check price of English Heritage Membership. Also located in the town of Barnard Castle, this striking French style Chateau houses a large and varied art collection. Managed by the English Heritage, the majestically imposing ruins of Egglestone Abbey are free to access. Situated in the tiny village of Bowes, the remains of Bowes Castle are again managed by the English Heritage and free to enter.
The title of Lord Barnard and accompanying property including this grand medieval estate has been passed down through the Vane family for generations. First coming into the family in , it was first owned by William Harry Vane, the 1st Duke Cleveland. It is nevertheless an impressively intact castle which makes for a great day out.
The next few of our recommendations for what to do in Teesdale are a little more on the active side and can be incorporated into longer Teesdale walks. Named after the enigmatic Hannah Hauxwell , a dedicated farmer who lived a frugal and fascinating life, this beautiful slice of Upper Teesdale is now a protected nature reserve. She lived and farmed the land at Low Birk Hat alone without electricity or running water. First appearing in a documentary called Too Long A Winter in , she went on to star in numerous documentaries about her choice of lifestyle.
Still a working farm, the land continues to be managed without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilisers. The traditional Hay Meadow is at its best in June and July and can be visited as a stand alone or as part of a walk in the local area — more details on that later.
The name is born of a local legend, the tale of a 16th century outlaw named William Gibson. On the run from the law, he apparently hid out in the recess behind the waterfall where people used to bring him food and clothing. Set in this part of the forest in Teesdale is one of the most attractive sections of the River Tees. The first bridge here, built in , was rather more precarious. It collapsed under the weight of 9 miners in and the new style bridge was built in It is considerably safer, but still recommend that only one person at a time use it.
Dropping 21 metres over the volcanic rock of Whin Sill into a plunge pool, High Force is widely regarded as the more impressive of the two waterfalls. We however personally preferred the smaller flowing cascades of Low Force. It is possible to visit the top of High Force along an alternative walkway from a different car park at High Force Hotel.
A further 30 minutes walk upstream from High Force is another magical waterfall called Blea Beck Force that we loved too. It was part of the longer walking route that we did back across the River Tees and over the hills. Details are in the next section. Summit to sea, the total distance is 92 miles km , but it is typically broken down into smaller sections of under 10 miles each.
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