Where the lane finally turns left into Further on you may glimpse the The Ashes, bear right along a gently Nature Reserve ponds, rich in rising stony track for 200 metres. wildfowl. At the field end, use a facing Cross the stile beside the gate and go stile to step onto Dinsdale Golf Course straight along the edge of the grassy in an attractive corner with bat boxes field with Black Wood on your right- on the trees. Keep to the left-hand edge of the course, but when the hedge stops hand side. At the end of the field, a just before the clubhouse, turn facing stile allows access to a narrow to the right at a marker post. No.1: Middleton-One-Row and Dinsdale neck of woodland, emerging from it With great care to avoid through a gap. Now leave the flying golf balls, use the he walk is a tour of an Teesdale Way by turning right groove and mound of an Tarea steeped in history, to walk along the track on the old hedgeline as a guide on easy paths and tracks. edges of cropped fields next to the right of way over Starting at Middleton to Black Wood for 800 metres, the fairways. -One-Row, about 5 miles then go across east of Darlington, another strip Descend from the Front of woodland. on The Teesdale Way, along the river to the gated entrance to Dinsdale Spa. The Roman Road of Rykenield Street from York to the Tyne once crossed The river here via Pountey‘s Bridge (Pont Teys or Tees Bridge) and was the most important crossing into Durham from Yorkshire. Using the bridge was a dangerous undertaking, as Follow the track along the next three After passing a hedge of conifers to highwaymen hid in the wood, fields, keeping the hedge and fence on your left, a broad track is met and and after Croft Bridge your right, a distant view of the another marker post directs you to turn opened in 1747 Pountey's Cleveland Hills opening up beyond. left along it for about 150 metres Bridge fell into disuse, its The last pasture has evidence of between golf tees to meet the lane stones used for buildings in ancient ridge and furrow cultivation, from Brass Castle. Turn right and note the village of Middleton-St-George. Neasham Hill Farm being over to the the pond and rock garden on your left left. Follow the sparse hedge, then as you carry on down the lane. As it A Teesdale Way sign directs you ahead along a paved terrace path cross the Low Dinsdale road and pass swings left, take the stile by the through the gates and along the drive immediately in front of the building through a white fieldgate. The path footpath sign on the left, aiming where Old Spa House comes into and leaves the garden via a stile to keeps to the right-hand field edges for half-right to once more cross the view. The right of way lies straight enter attractive Dinsdale Wood about 300 metres, then turns right fairways of the golfcourse. Exit from through a gap into a small wood, the top of the course into a field, then INFORMATION winding through the trees to reach a turn right along the edges for 450 metres field corner. Turn left along the field edge to emerge into Church Lane, leading Distance: 8 km (5 miles) + detours next to a big hedge. back to the start Time: allow 3½ hours Standard: fairly level, easy Enquiries about leaflets: [email protected] Transport: bus, Middleton-One-Row Full series available at: www.alanbhutchinson.co.uk/ramblingon1.html Refreshments: Middleton-One-Row In 1789 the Spa spring was Leaving the church, pass a mounting accidentally discovered while block outside the old rectory and take searching for coal, and when the great care by walking up the road on power of the sulphuretted water to the right to face oncoming traffic. cure skin complaints and rheumatics Good views can be had of Dinsdale became known, baths were erected in Manor across the field to the right, the 1797. After a decline in the popularity location of the medieval village of of taking the waters, Spa House Low Dinsdale. became a golf clubhouse in 1910. Digran “The Strong Man” (Earl Today it has been converted to Siward) originally built two houses on the residential properties. site of the present M anor. For the next 1.2 km follow the The larger gave the name undulating woodland path, very ”Digranshale” to the Parish muddy indeed after wet weather. in 1085 in the Domesday The river is never far away to the Book, and the Surtees family, left below, and bridges span who have continuously attractive gills crossed en route. occupied the Manor from Near the end, a look back is the first, took their name from rewarded by a splendid view of the proximity of the river. The Middleton-One-Row, and the Spa Manor is guarded by a dry nestling among the trees. Leave moat and fosse and other the wood by a stile, aim for an extensive earthworks nearby. electricity pole to cross the pasture, After the road bends to the and beyond is a concrete bridge right, opposite a farm with a over a stream. Dinsdale Manor is duck-shaped weather vane, a away to the right and 100 metres Teesdale Way sign points out brings you to a kissing gate opposite your route along a surfaced lane Low Dinsdale Church, which is to your left. Walk south along well worth a visit. A detour down this for about 1½ km and enjoy the road is recommended too, to see expansive views in all directions. Over Dinsdale Bridge, once a toll The tree-lined Tees is away to bridge high above the Tees. your left, Black Wood lies across The Church of St.John the Baptist was cultivated fields to the right, and a established in 638 when St. Aidan was glimpse may be had of Girsby Church touring Northumbria. A stone set into perched on its hill ahead. the corner commemorates restoration Fishlock Cottage is passed on your in 1196. The porch, built in 1379, has left, its stream once a source of set into its walls a cross and sword sulphur spa water. Further on, at the grave cover entrance to with the the drive to inscription Fishlocks, “Cocelynus a millstone Surteys”, and gives a clue Saxon knot that a mill work. The and race once imposing red stood down by the river here. A public sandstone tower was added in 1876. right of way still exists down the drive More recent is the lych gate but a as far as the riverbank and if time churchyard coffin bearing a large Leaflet originally designed by the Darlington Group of the Ramblers’ Association, © Apr 95. permits it is worth the short detour. plain cross dates from 1096. Published originally by Darlington Borough Council. Version 4 revised to December 2019.