Tees Railway Path

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Tees Railway Path

Total length: 6 miles (9.7km) Grid Reference for main access points: What is special? Lonton west: NY 951 245 The Tees Valley Railway was the remnant of a scheme for Mickleton NY 968 233 a line from Barnard Castle to Alston. It was opened in NY 992 220 1868 by an independent company and was taken over by Romaldkirk the North East Railway in 1882. The line closed in 1964 Cotherstone east: NZ 011 192 and is now a fabulous way to explore Teesdale on foot, Can also accessed from Middleton-in-Teesdale cycle or horseback. There are amazing views along the Tortoiseshell and Public Rights of Way entire route, passing picturesque villages and a patchwork of fields, dry-stone walls and mature Map: OS Explorer OL31 zoom hedgerow. in Directions: Approximately 30 miles southwest of Durham City centre Along the verges wildflowers have colonised in profusion, the primroses and cowslips make the place look Middleton-in-Teesdale (on foot): take Bridge St (B6277) and follow the wonderful at spring time. During early summer the air is public footpath sign which is immediately to the south side of the bridge © Crown Copyright and database right 2013 Ordnance Survey 100049055 heavy with the smell of May blossom. over the River Tees. Follow the footpath along the river banks and then through fields to Lonton. Nearest postcode DL12 0QB Keep an eye out for skylark, weasel and stoat. Ponds containing frogs and toads occur in the wet ditches Lonton one mile south of Middleton-in-Teesdale, on the B6277 along the side of the track and at nearby Hayberries Nature Reserve which is between Romaldkirk and Middleton to Cotherstone road. The entrance is on the B6277 just after Mickleton. These ponds also support marshland plants such as water forget-me-not and lady’s smock – the junction with B6276, on the right, and on a very sharp bend so be a favourite food of the orange tip butterfly. aware of oncoming traffic. Nearest postcode DL12 0PL Mickleton Approximately two miles southeast of Middleton-in-Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. At Mickleton village, take the road on the right heading towards Hunderthwaite. The entrance is ¼ mile, just before the sharp turn. It is signposted from the road. Nearest postcode DL12 0JN Romaldkirk Approximately four miles southeast of Middleton-in- Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. Park in more info... Romaldkirk village. At the main crossroads, follow the small directional signs to either the north or south access points. The entrances are signposted. Nearest postcode DL12 9DZ Cotherstone Approximately six miles southeast of Middleton-in- Teesdale, on the B6277 Middleton to Cotherstone road. Park in Cotherstone village. At the junction with the Hall, follow B6277 to access Contact the Countryside Service southeast of the village, or follow the Bowes Road towards Low Lathbury telephone: 0191 372 9100 to access southwest of the village. Nearest postcode DL12 9PH email: [email protected] www.durham.gov.uk/countryside Whilst every effort has been made by Durham County Council to ensure accuracy of information, the Council cannot accept any liability resulting from omissions or inaccuracies. Tees Railway Path

Parking: Car park at Mickleton (2 disabled parking bays). About two miles down the valley, the church tower of Romaldkirk appears through the Bridge Street, Rose Terrace and Market Place in trees. This pretty village hasn’t changed much since the 18th century - there are stocks Orange tip Middleton-in-Teesdale. Park responsibly in still standing on the green. It’s well worth taking time to appreciate Romaldkirk as butterfly Romaldkirk and Cotherstone villages. the Railway Path is diverted through the village. Please do not follow the route Public transport: straight ahead (it is incorrectly marked as a national trail on some OS maps) as Numbers 95, 96 (Scarlet Band) serve the villages this is private land. Waymarkers direct you to the next section of the route which starts south of the village. Dogs: Allowed under control. Please clean up after your dog Hard Ings cutting is sheltered with well drained slopes that support a number Designation: of orchids and butterflies. On a sunny day, it is a good spot to find tortoiseshell, Ringlet Railway Path, Local Site, part of the North Pennines ringlet and small blue butterflies. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Suitable for: Just before reaching Cotherstone, you will cross over the tall nine-arched Balder Viaduct Walkers along entire route. Cyclists and horse-riders which spans a deep river valley. This village lies near the junction of the rivers Balder and Small blue between Lonton and Low Lathbury (at Cotherstone) Tees. Its lush herb-rich pasture has long been responsible for producing tasty and on bridleways east of Cotherstone. Horse-riders Cotherstone cheese. When the Tees Valley Railway was in operation Cotherstone was are advised to dismount before crossing viaducts. a popular holiday resort. It’s much quieter these days but definitely worth a visit. Limited access for wheelchairs (see map) You can continue, on public rights of way, to Lartington and the bustling market Habitats: town of Barnard Castle. Please remember, cyclists and horseriders can use Woodland, part ancient woodland, grassland, scrub bridleways but not public footpaths. Stoat Accessibility Statement

This 6 mile linear route 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 route profile. Cowslip Primrose The path width varies between 0.6m and 3.7m and is mainly a mixture of grass and bare earth with some short sections of hard unsealed surface.

There are a number of gates along the route to prevent livestock from escaping, and the ground may be churned up and large stones exposed at these points. back Weasel

Photographs: M Rothery, S Priestley, T Coult, www.northeastwildlife.co.uk Tees Railway Path

600 miles: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lonton Mickleton Romaldkirk Cotherstone Lartington zoom NZ 951 245 NZ 968234 NZ 992220 NY 011192 NY 021183 in Lonton Map 1

Mickleton zoom in Map 2 zoom in Romaldkirk

Map 3 zoom in Map 4

zoom in Map 5 Cotherstone

zoom in Map 6 zoom in Lartington Map 7 back

Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Middleton- Bus Stop in-Teesdale Direction of Travel Hard Unsealed Surface Grass R iv er Te Road Crossing es X

zoom Lonton out 1.1m wide X start of Tees Way x2 2m wide

back

e n u L Seat r e iv R Parking Disabled Parking 1.5m wide X x2 Gate

Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 33m Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 23m x2 Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 1m wide Bus Stop Mickleton Direction of Travel zoom Hard Unsealed Surface out Mickleton Station Picnic Area X Road Crossing 1m wide i Information x3

T d ee 1.5m wide s R

W l to Mickleton l 25m x2 ay i X H

l l 25m Mickleton Station a 20m to Middleton Picnic Area B -in-Teesdale 19m

B x2 all H ill Rd i 1.5m wide x2 Tee s W ay back to Romaldkirk

Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10

Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 R iv er Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 Te es Direction of Travel Hard Unsealed Surface 30m Hayberries Nature Reserve Road/Tarmac 20m X

x2 x2 35m 1.3m wide 20m zoom x2 out

42 or 38m back

Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 X Medium Slope Down 1:20-1:10 Romaldkirk 50m Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1

Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1

42 or 38m 50m Bus Stop

X 1.3m wide Direction of Travel gap 2m X Hard Unsealed Surface zoom out Road signed Grass 30m Baldersdale & Hunderthwaite Road Crossing No public access Reservoirs X F!ollow signs through village. No Footpath (walkers only) footpath!

13m 80m Some OS maps are incorrectly marked and show a National Trail linking the two ! sections of RailwayPath. Follow diversion 5m 2m wide X through the village.

1m wide x2 R i v e r T

46m e

40m back

Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10

Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1

46m Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 Direction of Travel 1.1m wide R 30m iver Tees x2 X Hard Unsealed Surface Grass X Road Crossing

zoom out

River Balder

50m

1.1m wide x2 X Hallgarth Hill

30m back

1.1m wide Medium Slope Up 1:20-1:10 x2 Cotherstone Steep Slope Up 1:10-1:1 x4 1.1m wide 43m Steep Slope Down 1:10-1:1 25m x4 Bus Stop 38m 1.1m wide Direction of Travel X Low Lathbury Hard Unsealed Surface Grass to Romaldkirk Road Crossing zoom X 1.1m wide out Stile 38m Footpath X 60m

1.2m wide 0.8m wide No public access 9 steps

Walkers only on this stretch! Cyclists and horseriders should detour through village ay X x16 lew brid to Lartington back to gap 0.3m Barnard Castle on rights of way

© Crown Copyright and database right 2013. Ordnance Survey 100049055 0 N 500m Tees Railway Path Map 7 KEY Steps Up Direction of Travel to Cotherstone via road, public footpath or bridleway Grass Footpath x5 Bridleway

R iver Tees Lartington bridelway

zoom out

Lartington

B 6277

to Barnard Castle back via road, public footpath or bridleway