Weardale Way Section 5 (Stanhope to White Kirkley)
Introduction
Section 5 of the Weardale Way starts from the south side of the ford on the River Wear at Stanhope and finishes at White Kirkley Farm at White Kirkley near Frosterley. While relatively sheltered at both the start and the finish, the section involves a tough ascent, over a high ridge that is fully exposed to the elements. The steep descent into Bollihope is done on tarmac followed by an easy walk on a good trail along the wooded Bollihope Burn to the finish.
The theme of the section explores Weardale’s historic relationship with a thick layer of limestone known simply as ‘The Great Limestone’. Several large quarries along the middle dale sent the rock to blast furnaces at Consett and Teesside where it was an important part of the process in the production of iron and steel.
Stats at a Glance
Distance 7.4 km (4.6 miles) | Elevation Gain 198 m/648 ft | Maximum Elevation 338 m/1108 ft (Catterick Fell) | Going Generally firm with a potentially wet, muddy and/or boggy section above Parson Byers Quarry, through farmland, moorland, riparian woodland and parkland | Exposure Middle section is very exposed | Navigation (OS Maps Explorer OL31; Landranger 92); GPS File | Hospitality & Supplies Stanhope (All); Frosterley [1 km] (FF; GS; PH) | Start Stanhope Ford NY 990391 (w3w: putts.occupy.depths) | Finish White Kirkley Farm NZ 027359 (w3w: glee.clever.typically)| Grade Challenge | GALLERY
Trail Updates
The following updates have been published by The Durham Cow for this section: 23/04/25; 17/02/25
Description
From the south side of the ford – now permanently closed to vehicles – the route heads downstream on an access road before taking to the trail at Unthank Mill Farm. Decide for yourself whether to go under or over the Weardale Railway using tunnel or stile (either way is safe as the line after Stanhope railway station hasn’t been in use for many years). The route then ascends briefly on a stony track to pass through a holiday park to a public road. After a short distance on the road, it takes to the trail again at Railway Terrace, via a stile high in the stone wall before a long, undulating ascent through Parson Byers Farm, then over more fields to Parson Byers Quarry.
The steepest, most rugged part of the ascent begins at the foot of the long abandoned limestone quarry. The steep, narrow, densely-wooded trail, skirting the edge of the quarry, can be somewhat overgrown in summer but eventually it offers a great view over the quarry where you can appreciate the full depth of ‘The Great Limestone’. The climbing continues however, until hillside pasture meets open moorland at a gate onto Catterick Moss. Here, the trail is very exposed to the prevailing westerly wind with little in the way of shelter until you start the descent to Bollihope.
The view from Hilltop House – just before you begin descending – offers a panorama of the abandoned quarry workings along the Bollihope Burn which stubbornly continues to erode its course through The Great Limestone. Fine Burn Caravan Park, further down the hill, was once the site of Bollihope Smelting Mill.
At Low Bollihope the trail turns east to follow the burn along what eventually becomes the track bed of the Bishopley branch of the Weardale Railway. When conditions are tough the riparian woodland can be a haven offering much needed protection from the worst of the weather. Further along, the distinctive cutting, that will hopefully be noticed in the limestone, was made to allow the railway to access Fine Burn Quarry. Across the burn – close to the cutting – are a couple of distinct tunnels cut high up into the rock. These were excavated to investigate Slitt Vein, the longest mineral vein in Weardale.
After passing though another quarry – Bishopley Crag Quarry – and crossing the burn via the footbridge, the trail continues along the course of the railway until it reaches the road that leads to the finish at White Kirkley Farm (the railway continued on what is now a footpath under the bridge).