Start/Finish: Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope
Distance: 10 miles
Time Taken: 5.5 hours
Companion(s): Dittzzy (Tracey)
Route Map:
Following my challenge event in the Lakes on Thursday, the plan for today was to have a nice 'walk' and, luckily for me, Tracey was happy for us to explore the Weardale area and plotted out an interesting route for us to have a go at.
The weather forecast for the day wasn't too bad and, yet again, we hit lucky and enjoyed a fine, dry day with some late afternoon sunshine.
We set off on our way with the usual early climb and headed out of Stanhope to reach the field path crossing towards Shittlehope. We already had some wonderful views....
We descended from the fields to cross the footbridge over Shittlehope Burn where we had a bit of a mooch around noticing what looked like a tunnel entrance and peering across at the caves. (On a warm summer's day, I think we might have attempted to explore these further but the thought of getting wet this early on, on a walk on a late October day didn't seem like a good idea!)
We climbed up the bank on the other side of the burn and headed through the ruined buildings at Ravensfield....
..before we began the climb from Shittlehope Farm up onto Shittlehope Edge, taking in tne view on the way .....
.....and then headed towards the disused Roundhill Quarry.....
From the quarry, we headed uphill again towards Pitt House.....
...and then through Rogerley High Plantation.....
....before joining the track across Wolsingham Park Moor and enjoying the views again....
We are now on the approach to Fatherley Hill....
...and I think this is a pic of Fatherley Hill Currick....
I love walking across moorland and enjoying the views.....
Having now braved the exposed conditions on passing Collier Law (not too bad today as it was fairly mild), we followed the track which would lead us through Dursand Quarry ......
Joinging the road, we followed it in a southerly direction for a little while ......
....before following a finger post for a footpath that should lead us over Weather Hill and a descent to a path following Heathery Burn...
At this point we are looking down at a disused drift mine.....
...and then we crossed the bridge.....
...so that we could head back towards Stanhope on the other side of Stanhope Burn....
....and this was another part of the walk thoroughly enjoyed by me....and my camera lol :-)
Another brilliant day out in excellent company.....thanks again Tracey :-)
Good variety on this walk. Love the loooooooong views over the moors.
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