A walk in Weardale

 Walking from Westgate in Weardale. July 26th.

It's quite some time since the gadgies hit Weardale. Today a team of six plan a walk from Westgate to Rookhope. Westgate was the western boundary of the Bishop of Durham's hunting forest. Nearer home for him was the Eastgate boundary. And nearer home he had a hunting lodge, " Beau Repair", the ruin is called Bearpark. He was allowed his own army too.

Team: me, Brian  Margaret  John x2 and Harry

The area was exploited for minerals, much evidence remains.                                                     The walk is covered by OS Explorer 307 Consett and Derwent Reservoir.

There is a carpark in the village, the signpost difficult to see, hidden by foliage. We parked in a lay by.

A bit of a disappointment after last week's effort, but tell it as it is

Booted and gaiters we headed back east on the village street, turned first left and a short distance up the hill found the footpath on the left for Middlehope  Burn.A wooded valley with a stream tumbling down it is the prettiest part of the walk. A fairly gentle climb too.

                              The falls of Middlehope.

At the top of the wood we passed several reminders of the days of lead mining., mostly 19th century.

                  Mining remains. Mostly for lead.

Out of the valley we turned north east on a not very well marked footpath, crossing fields with unseen potholes and streams to Scarsike Head, a road junction.

                     Belted Galloway.

Again the path was difficult to find. Instead of heading to Wolf Cleugh as we couldn't spot a crossing we followed a barbed wire fence line, partially struggling through long grass until we reached a cut field and a fence to climb. Eventually having disturbed an assorted herd we got to the road alongside the Rookhope Burn. 

At the next road junction we turned right, crossed the burn and settled in the shelter of the bridge for a Herbie. (Apple pies, cookies and, of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A)

              Another mining reminder. A bridge no longer going anywhere.

                            Rookhope Burn.

After a short walk on the road we struggled to find the paths through Lintzgarth, it's not well marked. Eventually we found a good track which is the Weardale Way, at least we found one of the alternatives near Rookhope.

Near Lintzgarth we came across these mobile homes waiting for a site.

Once on the Weardale Way we found the going quite easy, much of it appears to be on an old, very dismantled railway line, again probably left from mining times.

At Crow Cleugh we left the Weardale Way, and our planned route, to follow a Pennine Journey (Not the Pennine Way) across several fields, one with a rather large bull guarding his girls, until we came to Heights Quarry.

                    Heights Quarry, run by Aggregate Industries.

Fortunately the company have left a fenced footpath round the southern edge of the quarry. We followed it and then a signed footpath across several fields before taking the farm track down past Chester House to the Valley road.

Turning right we walked back to the cars, changed and headed for the Fox and Hounds in Wylam, arriving just as the Timothy Taylor's was running out and the last can of Zero alcohol Guinness was sold.

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Our version is just over 10 miles, the original plan is just under 10 miles. Some climbs but generally easy going.