Bill's Walks

Isaac’s Tea Trail – What a Gem!

As is my normal practice I do not put walks on this website when there is a reliable and informative book on the walk and the rule is applicable here. However l must start with a confession that despite having walked in the north country for sixty years and also completed over thirty long distance and named walks and having a cottage on the western edge of the North Pennines as well as living in sight of the eastern edge of the North Pennines I had never walked this 37 mile walk before!

We had crossed or used parts of it over the years and when Clive, one of our six strong walking group, suggested walking this Trail we enthusiastically took up his suggestion. It saved us having to ponder over where to go for a few weeks!

The original plan had been The Inn Way for the Yorkshire Dales but when we had failed to find a shop selling the guide on the two days prior to the start of that walk (and Clive had walked the route at the Haltwhistle Walking Festival) we made a quick change of plan.

It must be said that impressions of any walk can depend on weather conditions, company and the time of the year. On this walk all three were met with superb dry days and good conditions underfoot but also to know that we were privileged to be in such an area in springtime. The peewits, curlew, golden plover and oystercatchers were all around and calling to each other which created a very musical background. The route is a broadly circular walk following and linking the places that Isaac Holden had taken whilst selling tea to the local inhabitants in the early 19th Century. As a consequence the route passes through Allendale town, Alston, Nenthead and the valleys of the East Allen, West Allen and the Nent Valley plus a host of upland farms most of which could be used as film sets.

Isaac started working life in the lead mines before he opened a grocers shop with his wife in Allendale. Incidentally, in the period we were doing this walk Allendale was the runner-up behind York as the best place to live in the north based on many different factors. He took to walking the area selling tea, which had not long been readily available, whilst his wife looked after the shop. The originator of the walking route was Roger Morris (nearly twenty years ago) and he has published a book called “Isaac’s Tea Trail” (ISBN number 9780956012210) which is available in shops in the area or on the web.

Chatting in the pub after the walk in April 2019 we all agreed that this walk was easily the best waymarked walk that we had done anywhere and great credit is due to the Allenheads Trust who are aided by Northumberland County Council, the LDWA, Cumbria County Council Rights of Way Officers and the Hexham Group of the Rambler’s Association for the work that they have all done. The stiles were in good repair and the posts over from near Sinderhope to Nenthead were well placed so that in fair weather you always had your direction. There is also the added interest for some walkers who are interested in the relics of the lead mining industry. This walk is only 40 minutes drive from the Hadrians Wall National Trail and it is feasible to include a section of this from Greenhead to Chollerford (arguably the best section) where the contrast between the wide open quiet Isaac’s Tea Trail makes a super antidote to the crowds on Hadrians Wall. I can warmly recommend this walk and suggest you put this walk on your to-do list and do not leave it as long as l did!

Isaac’s Tea Trail Official Website

Bowlees to Middleton in Teesdale

Distance:
Route 1 & 2 = 8.5 miles
Route 1 & 3 = 8 miles
Loop via Mickleton = 5 miles

Map: OS Explorer Map 31 – North Pennines

Start: Bowlees Visitor Centre (GR NY 908283)

Click to View Start Position on Google Maps

My normal route on this walk is to go via Coldberry Gutter to Middleton but this time we will use some paths that are not regularly walked. Basically there are three other routes which can be used. Two of these are on the north bank whilst the third is on the Pennine Way from Wynch Bridge.

Bowlees Visitor Centre was established in 1976 by the Durham Wildlife Trust to enable the public to understand Teesdale and its way of life, with an emphasis on the special and rare plant life as well as the excellent bird life. A prominent feature is the waterfall of Gibson’s Cave with its underhang reminiscent of Hardraw Force near Hawes in Wensleydale. Since 1976 there have been changes to the area, as there generally is everywhere, and notable in this aspect was the designation of much of the area as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1988 called the North Pennines AONB.

Walkers Leaving Bowlees Visitor Centre

2013 saw the 25th Anniversary of its creation and to celebrate this there were 25 special events organised. The designation gives enhanced protection to the area to ensure that the features which led to the original designation are maintained. There has been a considerable amount of work carried out by the AONB staff in developing the understanding of the area which has given it a higher national profile. The diversity of the events clearly illustrates the wide scope of the activities. Ten of the events had a geological theme and this was to highlight the fact that the AONB was awarded the status of a European Geopark in 2003 when it became the 15th member under the auspices of UNESCO and in the near future will be called a UNESCO Global Geopark. The 25th Anniversary has also seen a complete refurbishment of the Bowlees Centre which will be now open every day from Easter to October.

All of the work of the AONB can be read on their North Pennine News which can be obtained at the Dales Centre at Stanhope or on their website www.northpennines.org.uk/ or by telephoning tel 01388 528801.

The three ways to Middleton are as follows

1 – Proceed from Bowlees to Wynch Bridge, which is crossed to the other bank. The original suspension bridge on this site was built in 1704 and is thought to be the first suspension bridge in Europe. In 1802 a cable on this snapped killing one of the miners for whom it had been constructed and this bridge was replaced by the current one in 1830. The view upriver of Low Force is particularly attractive. In my younger days this fall was known as Salmon Leap but the pollution in the Tees in the second half of the 20th century prevented salmon from ascending the river. The word Tees is derived from Viking times and means a surging river.

River Tees from Wynch Bridge

The way downriver is very clear with the river on your left and meadows on your right. The Tees here separates Raby Estate with its white painted houses to the north from the Strathmore Estate to the south. In his Pennine Way Companion book Wainwright waxed eloquently about this section of the Pennine Way when he said “There are highlights of incomparable scenic quality along the route and much else of absorbing interest. The journey may be broken at Langdon Beck, and should be, for not often does one travel in such charming and fascinating surrondings. Always tarry long in the presence of beauty, for so much in life is barren”. Few will disagree with him.

2 – Leave Bowlees via the center and cafe and turn left along the B6277 for a short distance. Before reaching the Bowlees entry road take the track on the right alongside a wood and pass a farm. Head through the next field and on reaching the footbridge over Bowlees Beck, head left down to the Tees where another footbridge crosses Bowlees Beck. Do not cross the first footbridge over the beck as it goes to Newbiggin or if you want to see the chapel at Newbiggin leave Bowlees by the footpath to Hood Gill to the east where the road to Newbiggin is joined.

Newbiggin Wesleyan Chapel

The Wesleyan Chapel here is of interest as it is the oldest Wesleyan Chapel in the world in continuous use having been built in 1759. It houses a pulpit from which John Wesley preached. From Newbiggin a footpath leads down to the Tees and the north bank followed for about two miles to a bend at GR 927265 where the main road is reached. Cross the road and head east for about 100 yards and then follow the footpath uphill to Stonygill Head. The path heads diagonally across the first two fields to a stile in the corner and then passes to the right of a upgraded house to a track, before reaching the road which is followed downhill to Middleton. The fine building on the left at the entrance to Middleton was formerly the offices of the London Lead Company and was built in 1823. This was a Quaker company who placed a high priority on the welfare of their workers.

3 – Leave Bowlees as Route 2 to Newbiggin and proceed east through the village to a tight bend in the road where a footpath will be found just around the bend. This heads broadly east through a wood and crosses a beck where there is a fine waterfall. TAKE GREAT CARE HERE AS THE TRACK HAS A CONSIDERABLE DROP TO THE BED OF THE BECK AND PARTICULARLY IN WET WEATHER TENDS TO BE SLIPPY! The route is now past Bell House to Stonygill Head where the minor road is met and Route 2 joined.

It is also possible to do a loop around Middleton via Lonton and the Tees Walkway to Mickleton where we can head north east to cross the Tees where a route will be taken to Spotley Hall and Stanhope Gate back to Middleton.

To do this cross the border bridge over the Tees and immediately descend some steps down to the access road for Step Ends farm. Just past the farm go diagonally across the field in a south-west direction to Lonton. Cross the B6277 and head over the road to climb a concrete stile and reach the old railway line. Here turn left and pass through pleasant country. In May the blossom on the hawthorns along this track is particularly good.

Tees Railway Path near Lonton

After passing the Mickleton picnic site continue to where it climbs to a small road to Hury Reservoir and turn left towards Mickleton. After about 100 yards, where the road turns left, continue straight ahead on the waymarked route. When you get to the back of a farmhouse turn right (east) passing a hen house and after passing through two more fields watch for the stile on the left onto the road. Turn left towards Mickleton and take the road on the right which soon turns left to parallel the B6277. A short distance further look out for the good signpost to Beckstones Wath footbridge. The path soon leaves this track on the right (again a good sign) to reach Beckstones Bridge clearly visible across the field. This bridge was opened in 2002 by George Pendlebury who was Chairman of the AONB and was a champion of this area.

Head left on reaching the far bank and head upriver where you soon meet the Teesdale Way. Continue upriver to Sun Bank where the bridleway zig-zags up to the B6282 at Stotley Hall, a fine Jacobean building with mullioned windows. Note that there has been a deviation here and the path now comes out opposite the hall. Turn to Middleton and watch out for traffic. There is a good verge all the way west. Just before reaching Lane Side note the old milepost which says Middleton 1 mile and The Edge 8 miles.

Turn right to Stanhope Gate and behind the farm go through a white gate which follows a wall west to the Stanhope road. Take the footpath behind the houses which leads down through the graveyard to the church of St Mary built in 1886 from where it is a short distance onto Middleton main street.

Whichever way you do this walk you will pass through Middleton in Teesdale which is an attractive town and particular attention should be paid to the memorial fountain in the town centre. This was erected to mark the retirement of Robert Bainbridge from the London Lead Company. He was evidentally well respected as so much was subscribed that there were sufficient funds to erect a second fountain at Nenthead!

Wainwright’s Pennine Journey

I do not put walks on this website that are covered by existing guide books and do not intend to… however last week l walked on a section of Wainwright’s Pennine Journey from Blanchland to Hexham which was a distance of 12 miles from Blanchland to the banks of the Tyne, finishing next to the beautiful bridge reminiscent of the French bridges on the Loire, Dronne and Dordogne that l am well acquainted with. The whole route was a joy to walk!

A Pennine Journey is a 247 mile walk which is a circular starting at Settle which then goes to north to Hadrian’s Wall via the eastern side of the Pennines, then along the best parts of Hadrian’s Wall returning to Settle on the western side of the Pennines. The walk was established by David Pitt, a member of the Wainwright Society and published in 2010. However the genesis of this walk goes back more than seventy years to 1938 when Alfred Wainwright walked a route to Hadrian’s Wall and wrote a book on his walk a year later. Wainwright stated “l wrote a book of my travels, not for others to see but to transport my thoughts to that blissful interlude of freedom”. It must be remembered that these were exceptional historic times with Europe on the brink of war and great uncertainty. The book was kept at home in a drawer and in 1954 Alfred Wainwright came to the public eye when the first of his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells was published. This was seized on by walkers as a superb unique book and over the years the series was completed with the publication of another six books. Many others followed.

Village Square, Blanchland

Go forward to the 1980s and the Pennine Journey book was seen by his editor Jenny Dereham at his publishers (Michael Joseph) who persuaded him to get the book published and indeed, having had the book for nearly thirty years like many others, it is an absolute treasure. In 1998 David Pitt and his wife who were members of the Wainwright Society and who, by then had spent several years devising a route which covered all of the places mentioned in the book, were successful in getting their book published. In his book he acknowledges the help he got from others.

Their route follows footpaths, much of which are on National Trails, and the production is “a la Wainwright” with good hand drawn maps, some good illustrations and excellent route descriptions. Since then those of who have recent maps will see that the whole walk is now highlighted on the OS Explorer Maps and the route is waymarked throughout. Our group recently walked a section from Sandford to Kirkby Stephen on lesser known paths and on a very hot day this was perfect to walk with some tree cover from the sun.

Regatta Day at the River Tyne, Hexham

David Pitt and the Wainwright Society have done a great job in creating and developing this walk and l cannot recommend it too highly. To me it comes in my top five long distance walks closely behind Offa’s Dyke as a favourite walk. The guide is published by Frances Lincoln and even if you do not walk the complete route it will still give you many days of pleasure!

The Heritage Way Information

I have recently been involved with the creation of The Heritage Way which I am pleased to say is now complete and has its public opening later this month. Below is information on the route and also the Official Opening on May 31st.

I have also attached a magazine article about the route!

The Heritage Way is a Northumbria Ramblers initiative, supported by Northumberland and Durham County Councils and the five local authorities which constituted the former Tyne and Wear Metropolitan District. It is being formally opened at Causey Arch by TV personality John Grundy on Thursday 31st May during the Ramblers Festival of Walking.

It is an 80-mile walking route which travels around the edges of the former Tyne and Wear with forays into Northumberland and Durham. It is divided into 9 sections (all walkable in a day). The route passes through pleasant countryside, taking in woodland, coastal and riverside scenery, whilst visiting many places associated with the rich industrial heritage of the northeast.
The route is described in 9 leaflets, all downloadable from the Heritage Way website www.TyneWearHeritageWay.org.uk. Each leaflet features a map with walk instructions and heritage information which can be seen along the way.

The Heritage Way takes in many places that powered the industrial revolution. Causey Arch was the first single-span stone-built railway bridge in the world. The Bowes Railway is the world’s only standard gauge rope-hauled railway. The single-span arch bridge at Hagg Bank was well ahead of its time. Souter Lighthouse was the first lighthouse powered by electricity. The Heritage Way takes in all of these sites and many more. For much of its route it travels along the old waggonways used to transport the coal which was the catalyst for all this industry.

The northern half of the Heritage Way starts at North Shields and follows the coast to Seaton Sluice. From there it goes inland via the scenic Holywell Dene to Weetslade Country Park, then past Big Waters to Dinnington and Prestwick Carr. Then it heads south through Ponteland to Newburn and along the River Tyne to Wylam.

The southern half goes from Wylam to Thornley Woodland (where for a short section it follows the Red Kite Trail), then past Causey Arch to Beamish and Washington Village. The final two sections follow the River Wear to Roker Pier and along the coast and the Cleadon Hills to South Shields. All of this is very pleasant walking.

The black and white Heritage Way markers are already in place. They are easy to spot and feature a coal wagon of the type used on the waggonways which are a significant part of the route.
Notes

Route marking, website development and leaflet design has been done by Northumbria Ramblers with the support of the local authorities.

The Heritage Way will be officially opened by John Grundy at 2.30pm on 31st May at Causey Arch in County Durham. Causey Arch is on the route of the Heritage Way. There will be TV and press coverage. Ramblers groups will converge at Causey Arch in time for the opening. Teas will be available at the Causey Arch Café (next to the carpark) for invited guests. A locomotive will be in steam on the adjacent Tanfield Railway and local folk duo will be playing and singing on scene.

The entirety of the Heritage Way will be walked in the week from 25 May to 3 June coinciding with the Ramblers Festival of Walks. The various sections will be led by the various Ramblers Groups in the area. Anyone interested in joining the walks over this week, please contact your local Ramblers Group.

Alan Mitcham
Northumbria Ramblers – 9 May 2018

Click for full size image.