Holwick Head to Middleton-in-Teesdale
| 27th July 2025 | This general update for walkers concerns current access and navigation on Section 3 of the Teesdale Way (Holwick Head to Middleton-in-Teesdale) 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 4.5 mile section of the Teesdale Way is the last of three that follow the Pennine Way from Dufton in Cumbria which, as 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 are more stiles on this section than there are on the previous two with many being built into stone walls. Some require at least one big step up (and down) and there’s one (pictured in the gallery linked below) that’s quite difficult to get a dog over (of anything else for that matter) if it’s not capable of doing it itself.
The trail underfoot — particularly between Holwick Head and Low Force — is usually in good condition regardless of the weather although we found quite a bit of vegetation overgrowth on the rocky ascent when the trail departs from the river (you can put this down to the time of year).
That’s it for Section 3. 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 3 taken on the day(s) of the update in our Google Gallery.