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 […]
Weardale Way Update (S3&4) Read More »
The Smiths Arms public house on Section 12 of the Weardale Way at Castle Dene near Chester le Street is currently closed. It is for sale with the owner seeking permission to convert it into a residence so may be lost permanently as a hospitality outlet on the Weardale Way. If you can add any
Weardale Way Update (S12) Read More »
The Public Footpath off (Lower) High St leading down to the railway embankment at the beginning of Section 8 of the Weardale Way at Witton le Wear has been closed for some time while a new house is being built. It is not known when these works will finish. Until they do, continue downhill on
Weardale Way Update (S8) Read More »
Ask anyone in Durham if they’ve ever seen an otter on the River Wear and the answer’s probably “No”. Which is surprising as these lutrine predators, over a metre long, are actually quite common in the North East. It bears out my own experience though, as despite the time I’ve spent walking the region’s rivers,
An Otter on the River Wear Read More »
Sunday 18th October 2020 Not a lot of people know this but you can download excellent on-line field guides, or self-guided geology tours, from the British Geological Survey’s Earthwise site, in this case one around the Durham Peninsula as published by the Yorkshire Geological Society of which I’m a member. On Sunday I finally decided
Coal, Caves & Quarries in Durham City Read More »
Tuesday, 29th September 2020 Today I drove up to Eastgate, in Weardale, to walk up the Rookhope Burn and photograph a rock. Not any old rock though, this was one of the few outcrops of the Little Whin Sill in Weardale. The Whin Sill itself is a massive intrusion of volcanic magma which underpins Hadrian’s
Turn Wheel Linn inspires first ‘official’ Durham Cow video Read More »
Friday, 24th April 2020 If you’ve never heard of County Durham sculptor Ray Lonsdale and you live in the North East of England, you might be familiar with Tommy, a sombre, oversized sculpture of a war-weary soldier which dominates Terrace Green on the promenade at Seaham Harbour. Since it was installed in 2014, Ray’s work
Ray Lonsdale County Durham Round Read More »
Tuesday, 17th October 1346 Here’s an event at which The Durham Cow was absent and a good job too! It’s an event that sets our home town well apart from the competition and which – as medieval battles go – is more significant than most. As a self-declared ‘non-expert’ I rely for information on various
The Battle of Neville’s Cross Read More »
