Cow Green to Holwick Head
| 2nd August 2025 | This general update for walkers concerns current access and navigation on Section 2 of the Teesdale Way (Cow Green to Holwick Head) with particular regard to where it differs from what might be published elsewhere on this site or in our Teesdale Way Pocket Guide.
Local conditions and heavy use quickly degrade infrastructure – particularly timber – causing impromptu and possibly persisting access and/or navigation issues. The chances of the trail changing in some way – short and long-term – is even more likely in urban areas. If your experience is different to what we’ve published here, you can help by leaving your insights in the comments.
Conclusion
This 6.8 mile section of the Teesdale Way is the second of three that follow the Pennine Way from Dufton in Cumbria which, being a National Trail, has always been well-maintained. All way-marking on these sections is for the Pennine Way and the route remains exactly as published in our 2021 guide. Follow it easily with a GPS file from The Durham Cow.
There’s quite a bit of infrastructure on this section including gates, stiles of various types, bridges and extensive tracts of duck-boarding in various states of repair, mostly good and all passable with care. The most obvious feature to point out on this section is the tricky descent of Cauldron Snout. Its long, very rugged and quite challenging in places. If you lack a head for heights and you’re not up for a bit of downwards clambering (downwards being the most difficult in my opinion) then this might not be the section for you. Everything, including Cauldron Snout and the scree alongside Falcon Clints is exactly as described in the guide book. We reviewed the section when vegetation was at its height and encroaching onto the trail in places, particularly for part of the way along the Harwood Beck. On the plus side, all was firm and dry underfoot with no mud, or boggy ground to contend with.
That’s it for Section 2. We hope this helps. If you have anything to add please feel free to do it in the comments. Happy Walking!
Gallery
View a comprehensive selection of images for Section 2 taken on the day(s) of the update in our Google Gallery.