Tees Railway Path. What is special?

Transcription

1 What is special? The Tees Valley Railway was the remnant of a scheme for a le from Barnard Castle to Alston. It was opened 1868 by an dependent company and was taken over by the orth East Railway The le closed 1964 and is now a fabulous way to explore Teesdale on foot, cycle or horse. There are amazg views along the entire re, passg picturesque villages and a patchwork of fields, dry-stone walls and mature hedgerow. Along the verges wildflowers have colonised profusion, the primroses and cowslips make the place look wonderful at sprg time. Durg early summer the air is heavy with the smell of May blossom. Contact the Countryside Service telephone: countryside@durham.gov.uk Crown Copyright and database right 213 Ordnance Survey Keep an eye for skylark, weasel and stoat. Ponds contag frogs and toads occur the wet ditches along the side of the track and at nearby Hayberries ature Reserve which is between Romaldkirk and Mickleton. These ponds also support marshland plants such as water forget-me-not and lady s smock a favourite food of the orange tip butterfly. more fo... Total length: 6 miles (9.7km) Grid Reference for ma access pots: Lonton west: Y Mickleton Y Romaldkirk Y Cotherstone east: Z Can also accessed from Middleton--Teesdale Tortoiseshell and Public Rights of Way Map: OS Explorer OL31 Directions: Approximately 3 miles shwest of Durham City centre Middleton--Teesdale (on foot): take Bridge St (B6277) and follow the public footpath sign which is immediately to the sh side of the bridge over the River Tees. Follow the footpath along the river banks and then through fields to Lonton. earest postcode DL12 QB Lonton one mile sh of Middleton--Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. The entrance is on the B6277 just after the junction with B6276, on the right, and on a very sharp bend so be aware of oncomg traffic. earest postcode DL12 PL Mickleton Approximately two miles sheast of Middleton--Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. At Mickleton village, take the road on the right headg towards Hunderthwaite. The entrance is ¼ mile, just before the sharp turn. It is signposted from the road. earest postcode DL12 J Romaldkirk Approximately four miles sheast of Middleton-- Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. Park Romaldkirk village. At the ma crossroads, follow the small directional signs to either the north or sh access pots. The entrances are signposted. earest postcode DL12 9DZ Cotherstone Approximately six miles sheast of Middleton-- Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. Park Cotherstone village. At the junction with the Hall, follow B6277 to access sheast of the village, or follow the Bowes Road towards Low Lathbury to access shwest of the village. earest postcode DL12 9PH Whilst every effort has been made by Durham County Council to ensure accuracy of formation, the Council cannot accept any liability resultg from omissions or accuracies.

2 Ab two miles down the valley, the church tower of Romaldkirk appears through the trees. This pretty village hasn t changed much sce the 18th century - there are stocks still standg on the green. It s well worth takg time to appreciate Romaldkirk as the Railway Path is diverted through the village. Please do not follow the re straight ahead (it is correctly marked as a national trail on some OS maps) as this is private land. Waymarkers direct you to the next section of the re which starts sh of the village. Hard Ings cuttg is sheltered with well draed slopes that support a number of orchids and butterflies. On a sunny day, it is a good spot to fd tortoiseshell, rglet and small blue butterflies. Just before reachg Cotherstone, you will cross over the tall ne-arched Balder Viaduct which spans a deep river valley. This village lies near the junction of the rivers Balder and Tees. Its lush herb-rich pasture has long been responsible for producg tasty Cotherstone cheese. When the Tees Valley Railway was operation Cotherstone was a popular holiday resort. It s much quieter these days but defitely worth a visit. You can contue, on public rights of way, to Lartgton and the bustlg market town of Barnard Castle. Please remember, cyclists and horseriders can use bridleways but not public footpaths. Accessibility Statement Rglet Stoat Orange tip butterfly Small blue Parkg: Car park at Mickleton (2 disabled parkg bays). Bridge Street, Rose Terrace and Market Place Middleton--Teesdale. Park responsibly Romaldkirk and Cotherstone villages. Public transport: umbers 95, 96 (Scarlet Band) serve the villages Dogs: Allowed under control. Please clean up after your dog Designation: Railway Path, Local Site, part of the orth Pennes Area of Outstandg atural Beauty Suitable for: Walkers along entire re. Cyclists and horse-riders between Lonton and Low Lathbury (at Cotherstone) and on bridleways east of Cotherstone. Horse-riders are advised to dismount before crossg viaducts. Limited access for wheelchairs (see map) Habitats: Woodland, part ancient woodland, grassland, scrub This 6 mile lear re is relatively flat along its entire length. There are several slopes where bridges once stood but only those which are particularly steep have been marked on the map so you are advised to also look at the re profile. The path width varies between.6m and 3.7m and is maly a mixture of grass and bare earth with some short sections of hard unsealed surface. Cowslip Primrose There are a number of gates along the re to prevent livestock from escapg, and the ground may be churned up and large stones exposed at these pots. Weasel Photographs: M Rothery, S Priestley, T Coult,

3 ft Map 1 Lonton 6 miles: Lonton Mickleton Romaldkirk Cotherstone Lartgton Z Z Z Y Y Map 2 Mickleton Map 3 Romaldkirk Map 4 Map 5 Cotherstone Map 6 Lartgton Map 7

4 Map 1 to Rose Tce B62 77 Parkg Steps Up Middleton-Teesdale Ri Steep Slope Up1:1-1:1 Bus Stop ve r Grass Te es Road Crossg 3m Lonton start of Tees Way 2m wide 5m

5 Map 2 rl un e Picnic Area ve Ri Parkg 1.5m wide 23m Disabled Parkg 33m Medium Slope Up1:2-1:1 Medium Slope Down1:2-1:1 1m wide Steep Slope Up1:1-1:1 Mickleton Bus Stop sw ay to Middleton --Teesdale Mickleton Station Picnic Area Ball H ill Te e Rd Mickleton Station Picnic Area i Ball H 1m wide x3 25m 2m ill Rd 19m i 1.5m wide Road Crossg Information 1.5m wide Tee s to Romaldkirk 25m to Mickleton Wa y 5m

6 Map 3 Eggleston Steps Up Medium Slope Up1:2-1:1 Ri 3m 1.3m wide 2m ve r Medium Slope Down1:2-1:1 Te es Steep Slope Up1:1-1:1 Hayberries ature Reserve 35m 2m Road/Tarmac 42 or 38m 5m

7 Map 4 Picnic Area Steps Up Romaldkirk 5m 42 or 38m gap 2m Medium Slope Up1:2-1:1 3m 2m wide Steep Slope Down1:1-1:1 Bus Stop 1.3m wide Road signed Baldersdale & Hunderthwaite Reservoirs! o public access 5m Steep Slope Up1:1-1:1 5m Follow signs through village. 13m Medium Slope Down1:2-1:1 Grass o footpath!! 8m Road Crossg Footpath (walkers only) Some OS maps are correctly marked and show a ational Trail lkg the two sections of RailwayPath. Follow diversion through the village. 1m wide r Rive 46m Tees 4m 5m

8 Map 5 Medium Slope Up1:2-1:1 Steep Slope Up1:1-1:1 46m Steep Slope Down1:1-1:1 River Tees 3m Grass Road Crossg River Balder 5m Hallgarth Hill 3m 5m

9 Map 6 Riv er 25m Tee s Steps Up 25m 38m Cotherstone x4 43m Medium Slope Up1:2-1:1 Steep Slope Up1:1-1:1 Steep Slope Down1:1-1:1 x4 Bus Stop Low Lathbury to Romaldkirk 38m 9 steps Road Crossg Stile 6m 1.2m wide Grass Footpath.8m wide Walkers only on this stretch! Cyclists and horseriders should detour through village o public access to x16 gap.3m Barnard Castle on rights of way b ri d to Lartgton lewa y 5m

10 Map 7 x5 to Cotherstone via road, public footpath or bridleway Steps Up Grass Footpath Bridleway River Tees Lartgton bridelway Lartgton B6277 to Barnard Castle via road, public footpath or bridleway 5m