Following on from her walk through Pecknell Wood, Kirsty Brien, a member of the outdoor team at the TCR Hub, goes high up into the dale for an extremely scenic trip around Bowlees
Bowlees and Tees waterfalls
1. Our walk starts at the Bowlees Visitor Centre, standing with your back to the front door, turn to your right and follow the track which gently rises up through the fields, with the classic Teesdale white painted barns on the skyline. The track reaches its high point at Ash Hill, with magnificent views in all directions.
2. Descend to cross Smithy Sike (stream) and then through the farm buildings at Dirt Pit, the road climbs briefly and comes to a triangle of land with some large trees – cross over and follow the public footpath sign into the field, shortly crossing over a wooden walkway over a stream and wet ground.
3. Continue through the field and go through a gate next to a small barn and begin the descent towards the woodland behind the High Force Hotel – the path brings you into the carpark.
4. If you have time it is always a magnificent sight to see High Force, whether in low or high water, but our route crosses the road and turns left before very shortly picking up the public footpath down some stone steps and into a meadow next to the Tees.
5. .After a few hundred metres, cross the River Tees on the footbridge and follow The Pennine Way long distance walk on the south bank of the river.
6. The path follows close to the Tees as it heads down the valley and after 1.5 km brings you to the beautiful Low Force with its cola-brown coloured, peaty waters rushing over a series of drops and into the deep gorge below.
7. After passing the stone sheep, cross over the Winch Bridge (one person at a time) and enjoy a lofty view of the dark swirling waters below (there are some good information boards on the history and geology of this area).
8. The path makes its way back up through woodland and into across an open pasture – at the road, turn right, then immediately left and a short walk on the lane will bring you back to your starting point, the Bowlees Visitor Centre (which – fingers crossed will be open very soon for a celebratory cuppa and cake)
If you have time the stunning Summerhill Force and Gibson’s Cave can be found on short walk through the woods from the visitor centre – the waterfall plummets over a fantastically undercut piece of rock and according to legend it was the hiding place of a local rogue hundreds of years ago.
l The TCR Hub is offering you the chance to enjoy virtual activities, with some fully funded to support people who have been impacted by Covid.
From singing and cooking to yoga and one-to-one guided walks, email alice. [email protected] or call 01833 690150 for more details. To discover more about TCR Hub, go to www. tcrhub.co.uk.
