As often happens to many of us when we reach a milestone birthday, there’s a pressure to ‘tick boxes’ and for me, after turning 60, it was simply to take part in a road marathon. Despite running and cycling for many years, in events lasting days rather than hours, I’ve never done a marathon on …
Translating as ‘beautiful retreat’ from the French by which it was originally known, this now ruined manor house stands on a promontory above the River Browney in what was once a 1,300-acre, walled deer-park, two miles (three km) west of Durham City. The location is pastoral and pleasant despite many years of having been in …
Visitors to Barnard Castle will be hard-pressed to miss a distinctive two-storey building acting as a roundabout at the junction of The Bank, Newgate and Market Place in Barnard Castle. Since its construction in 1747 the Market Cross – also known as the ‘Market Hall’, ‘Butter Market’ and ‘Butter Mart’ – has been used as …
If you’re walking through Teesdale on the Teesdale Way you’re bound to encounter pairs of what look like milk churns or chimney pots, split down the middle and usually rust-red in colour. Inscribed vertically on each are the place names of the Teesdale parishes whose boundaries they mark: Middleton-in-Teesdale, Eggleston, Romaldkirk, Hunderthwaite, Cotherstone, Lartingon, Barnard …
We’re happy to say that the footbridge across the Rookhope Burn leading into Rookhope village at the end of Section 3 (or beginning of Section 4) is now OPEN. The bridge lies inconspicuously alongside an imposing sliding gate which, when it’s closed, might make it look like there’s no access. The Rookhope Inn however, remains …
As part of the continuing development works affecting the south side of the river between Queen Alexandra Bridge and Wearmouth Bridge, Section 14 of the Weardale Way is once again closed, which could persist until 2023. When we visited, we found the situation to be messy with no official diversions in place around the affected …
If you’ve ever fancied exploring the River Tees on the border between County Durham and the old North Riding of Yorkshire, there’s no better way to do it than by following the 92-mile Teesdale Way, one of County Durham’s two long distance walking trails supported by The Durham Cow. To help you make the most …
Since January 2021 the footbridge (FB) across the Rookhope Burn, approaching the finish of section 3, has been closed and fenced off because it is unsafe. The vehicle bridge is privately owned and is also barriered. Until the FB can be repaired, Durham County Council has instituted a diversion from the gate on the railway …
Whorlton Bridge has been closed to all users since December 2020. Access is completely fenced off and there is no other way to cross the river between Abbey Bridge (S6) and Winston Bridge (S7). This makes it impossible to continue on the Teesdale Way (TW) if you’re following our published route on the S side …
The Rookhope Inn at the finish/start of Sections 3 & 4 of the Weardale Way in Rookhope village, Rookhope, Weardale has been closed for several months. This important hospitality outlet also features on the Pennine Journey and C2C cycle trails. Thankfully it seems that the owner has plans to reopen in August so when it …
