Weardale Way - Day 7
A68 (NZ 137 326) to Wolsingham and Return
Distance 21km Climb 195m
Wednesday 4 September 2019
I had walked from Escomb to Sandy Bank Cottage (NZ 136 336) in February 2019, that was my sixth part of the 124 km Weardale Way shown on the LDWA website. Today I was going to take some friends on my next wander of the Way, there was Dell, Evo and Steve. The weather forecast was for good weather with rain later in the day. The sky was mostly clear and we could see for miles.
On earlier walks I had found that not all the route is signposted, so I had a look on the LDWA website and therefore roughly had some idea where we would be going. Leaving our transport in a layby on the busy A68, which overlooked McNeil and their lake shown on some maps as Mc Neil Bottoms.
We headed roughly north for a few meters onto the opening for McNeil. Following a footpath sign we headed north west across an open field with a small wood to our left. Passing the wood the countryside opened up before us and the path continued along the top. Lovely red cattle with calves stood and watched us pass through. I could hear a buzzard across to my left.
The ground drops slightly as we followed the south west edge of another small wood. We were now on The Weardale Way. Passed the wood we looked over the valley, I knew that below to our left the map and LDWA website shows The Weardale Way crossing fields, however there is no sign to show it is a footpath, only one warning us of cattle with young calves. So we continued up towards Sandy Bank Cottage where I had my sandwiches on my last walk on The Weardale Way.
Passing Sandy Bank Cottage we reached the track and turned north westerly and headed towards Wadley.
Passing through Wadley we saw goats and a massive, fierce looking sheep. We were back on The Weardale Way. A sign took us trough a field continuing north westerly up a short rise. Over a style we crossed into Harperley Dene, following the path which turned right then down over a bridge that took us over a narrow stream.
A short climb on the other side and we walked through the centre of a fallen tree.
Another turn to our right following the path and over a style which took us into a harvested wheat field.
Over the stubble and another style and we were in a field that took us below Harperley Hall the Police Training Centre with its Union Flag flying.
Once across this field and through a gate we were on a track, again heading north westerly. We crossed a very substantial looking bridge over a culvert
The track leads us down between an area of small plantations.
Leaving the trees the track led us down to Low Harperley.
A very interesting looking building, Low Harperley Farmhouse, swallows or were they house martins? Were flying into the house through a broken window. Steve asked someone who was working in the area and they said the house sadly had been in a fire last year where it had lost a large part of its roof. Any repairs were being held up as it was also now the home to bats. A statue of Our Lady was also standing in the corner.
Arriving home I checked the internet which shows originally this was Harperley Hall Manor House and is a Grade II listed building, part of which was built in the 1760's.
Around the corner we saw a house with a tree growing through it. Continuing along the track, Evo pointed out a large quarried area down near the River. Passing West Lodge Wood to our left we soon reached West Lodge.
My memory of the LDWA website shows The Weardale Way crosses the A689 over Eels Bridge over Eels Beck, and we followed. Crossing open fields heading northerly. A turn west and we were on an old overgrown track heading towards some farm buildings shown on the map as Old Park, with a large garden, pear trees large flowers and a large willow tree.
Following the track around the northern end of Old Park we passed through a gate into a large field. Footpath signs directed us north west towards a line of large pylons.
Checking the LDWA website on returning home The Weardale Way is to the south of the farm buildings but I did not see any signs of this.
Checking the LDWA website on returning home The Weardale Way is to the south of the farm buildings but I did not see any signs of this.
Just before we reached the pylon line a style and another footpath took us south west. Across a couple of fields of what looked like burnt peas.
On reaching a track it started to rain, so it was decision time? Waterproofs on or try and bluff it out. As we continued south down the track we saw a footpath sign to our right. This led us over Bradley Burn and onto the Bradley Burn Farm Holiday Park.
Within a few meters the warm sun was out and the waterproof jackets were soon packed away again.
Crossing south over the A689, we followed a track that turned west towards a water treatment site. Looking further west we could see the large tents and marquees from the recently held Wolsingham Show.
A Weardale Way footpath sign took us next to the treatment site and turned south towards the River Wear. Once over the Weardale Railway line we turned westerly along by the River.
It was lovely walking along here.
Steve and Evo spotted a grey heron and a number of other birds. As usual I was too slow with my camera.
We walked through an area where the smell of flowers was lovely. My Nana used to call them rabbits mouths, it was only when I got home and looked them up. They are called antirrhinum or snapdragons.
We walked through an area where the smell of flowers was lovely. My Nana used to call them rabbits mouths, it was only when I got home and looked them up. They are called antirrhinum or snapdragons.
After a few kilometres the footpath turns again and took us back over the Weardale Railway line.
Our route was now between the Weardale Railway line and the fence of the railway sheds.
The path climbed slightly up hill away from the River. By an old water pump.
Continuing by the fence we passed the area where the old steel works had been. The footpath reaches the A689 Durham Road right next to Robson's of Wolsingham. Where we turned left, west and headed into the town along Hallsfield. Crossing Waskerley Beck.
Passing what looks like an old church.
Continuing along the A689 now called East End.
Where we found a café, near the town centre.
After a short rest for a coffee and cake at Number 10 we set off back, along almost the same route.
Passed Robson's of Wolsingham and down the narrow little cut. Passed the site of the old steel works and the Weardale Railway train sheds. Over the Railway line and down to the River Wear. Following along the River bank heading south eastwards. Crossing the planky bridges. Through the lovely smell of snapdragons.
After a few kilometers we returning over the Weardale Railway line and walked up to the A689. Now instead of walking up by the Bradley Burn Farm Holiday Park, we turned right, south east and walked along the A689.
Passing Bradley Hall. I now know after checking the LDWA website, that a footpath to the north of Bradley Hall was the correct route of the Weardale Way. However there was no sign showing this.
Never mind, after just over a kilometre we crossed Eels Bridge and Eels Beck, reaching West Lodge.
It was then south east down towards Low Harperley and the house with the tree.
Continuing up towards Harperley Hall the Police Training Centre with its Union Flag flying. Over the field of harvested wheat, and into Harperley Dean.
Once through the Dean it was across the field to Wadley, continuing south easterly up the track to Sandy Bank Cottage.
From Sandy Bank Cottage it did not take us long to reach our transport in the layby on the A68. As we were walking the last few hundred meters it started to rain so we had timed it perfectly.
It had been a great day out and I had thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Thanks to Dell, Evo and Steve. We had walked 21km with 195m climb.
You will see I have used the LDWA website route for the Weardale Way. While writing up my blog and checking things out on the internet I have seen another route for the Weardale Way which differs slightly to this route. One day I may get the time to check this other route out.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at the time of walking.
Passing what looks like an old church.
Continuing along the A689 now called East End.
Where we found a café, near the town centre.
After a short rest for a coffee and cake at Number 10 we set off back, along almost the same route.
Passed Robson's of Wolsingham and down the narrow little cut. Passed the site of the old steel works and the Weardale Railway train sheds. Over the Railway line and down to the River Wear. Following along the River bank heading south eastwards. Crossing the planky bridges. Through the lovely smell of snapdragons.
After a few kilometers we returning over the Weardale Railway line and walked up to the A689. Now instead of walking up by the Bradley Burn Farm Holiday Park, we turned right, south east and walked along the A689.
Passing Bradley Hall. I now know after checking the LDWA website, that a footpath to the north of Bradley Hall was the correct route of the Weardale Way. However there was no sign showing this.
Never mind, after just over a kilometre we crossed Eels Bridge and Eels Beck, reaching West Lodge.
It was then south east down towards Low Harperley and the house with the tree.
Continuing up towards Harperley Hall the Police Training Centre with its Union Flag flying. Over the field of harvested wheat, and into Harperley Dean.
Once through the Dean it was across the field to Wadley, continuing south easterly up the track to Sandy Bank Cottage.
From Sandy Bank Cottage it did not take us long to reach our transport in the layby on the A68. As we were walking the last few hundred meters it started to rain so we had timed it perfectly.
It had been a great day out and I had thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Thanks to Dell, Evo and Steve. We had walked 21km with 195m climb.
You will see I have used the LDWA website route for the Weardale Way. While writing up my blog and checking things out on the internet I have seen another route for the Weardale Way which differs slightly to this route. One day I may get the time to check this other route out.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at the time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Weardale Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Follow link to my previous walk on the Weardale Way. Escomb to Sandy Bank Cottage (NZ 136 336)
Follow link to my next walk on the Weardale Way.
