Teesdale revisited but only in my dreams.

Still locked down and not walking as a group. many of us are having our own  days out, mostly from home as requested.

But today (Miss Buck my English teacher would never allow us to start a sentence with a conjunction unless IT WAS FOR EMPHASIS) we are all off for a walk from Middleton in Teesdale  to Barnard Castle.

Barnard Castle is a pretty town in Durham, well known for its opticians. So well known (by Britons at least) that the local brewery has a special ale called "Eye tester" to celebrate the towns usage as an ophthalmic centre.

And (another one) for those who wrongly thought last week's blog related an actual day out, it wasn't and neither is this. Just revisiting.

The walk is a linear stroll out so needs cars at either end or, alternatively, do as we do and drive to Barnard Castle and catch a bus to Middleton, then walk back. At the bottom of Barnard Castle, by the old cheese market, turn left and there is a large car park which charges a very modest £1.50 for a whole day. Good thinking on the part of the local council, it brings people in.

There is a full team out on a lovely but cold January day, a few snowdrops out and even fewer croci.The map that covers the whole walk is OS OL 31 Explorer, North Pennines.

There are not many buses that run from BC to MiT, they leave the bottom end of town about five minutes before the hour, but check if you intend to use them.

 Barnard Castle Car Park. All day for £1.50, a bargain to warm a Yorkshireman's heart 

From the car park we walked back towards the main street, crossed the road by the old cheese market and settled in Penny's cafe to breakfast and wait for the bus. The stop is just across the road from the  the cafe.

                   The Market Cross, Barnard Castle. Octagonal shape built in 1747, The upper floor was once used as a courtroom.

The bus takes about half an hour to go up the valley to Middleton in Teesdale, passing close to or through the villages we will walk through on the way back.

                  Bus stop in Middleton in Teesdale

                               And something more attractive in Middleton in Teesdale

 From Middleton there are two well marked footpaths back to Barnard Castle. On the north side of the river is the Teesdale Way and on the south The Tees Railway Path. We chose the latter, it's flatter.

Off the bus we walked back down the road  crossed the River Tees and went through the gate just across the bridge.

Bridge over the River Tees a M i T

Harry and I  go down the steps just over the bridge, striding out at the start of the walk.

The footpath crosses fields close to the river before turning towards Lonton. A set of steps leads to the dismantled railway line.

                                                       "Up them jolly dancers" as my grandad used to say

                                   And off we go along the railway.

The path is easy to walk. Soon it crosses the River Lune by means of a fine viaduct, with warning signs.

                                 Crossing the River Lune. (Not the one that flows through Lancaster)

               

                                          Take care of your horse.

Further along the walk passes close to the village of Mickleton but we wandered on to the next settlement, Romaldkirk. This village used to be in the North Riding of Yorkshire but was moved to County Durham in 1974. It is named for St. Romald and the village church is dedicated to him too.

                   St, Romald's church in the village of that name. Saxon origins with lots of additions

As the path leaves the railway line here we decided it was a good place for a Herbie. We sat on benches opposite the church for a feast of apple pies, cookies, Kipling cakes and chocolate cake from Mrs A.

Lunch over we walked south on the road out of the village before turning right and going uphill for a short distance before rejoining the railway. The detour is necessary as a stretch of the track is now in private hands, but they kept the signal.

Further along the walk crosses the River Balder, another fine viaduct with warnings for horse riders.

                          Viaduct, advice and the River Balder from above.

The next village we passed is Cotherstone. On occasion we have stopped here, nine miles into the walk and caught a bus back to B C but not today, we walked on.

                              Cotherstone village.

  Soon we were at Lartington Hall where the Tees Railway Path leaves the track and crosses fields , goes under a bridge on another dismantled line  and turns south east towards Pecknell Farm and Woods. At this point the path joins the Teesdale Way and meets the abutments to a dismantled bridge across the Tees.

                                   The old bridge was built from steel, dismantled when the railway closed.

We followed the Teesdale Way for about half a mile before crossing the river on the Deepdale Aquaduct and headed back to down for a brief look at the old castle.

                        Deepdale aquaduct and footbridge

                         Barnard Castle, there is a connection with good old Richard III

On the side of the path into town there is a fine mini golf course showing the history of Teesdale;

                               Golf course, great idea.

We retired to the Golden Lion which had a selection of fine ales and stouts as pubs used to say and coffee for the drivers of course.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2021

(This map is an old one and shows how we were naughty and went through the Lartington Estate. On that occasion we met a lady who said it didn't matter!

The walk is about 11 easy miles, good day out for the family!