CYCLE HIRE Dale Bike Hire Mobile hire in Teesdale, Weardale & Allendale Cycling Tel: 01388 527737 IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION Traveline NORTH PENNINES Tel: 0870 608 2 608 The North Pennines is one of Web: www.traveline.org.uk England’s most special places - a TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE circular peaceful, unspoilt landscape with Middleton-in-Teesdale - 10 Market Place routes a rich history and vibrant natural Tel: 01833 641001 beauty. It was designated as an for FURTHER INFORMATION Area of Outstanding Natural EXPERIENCED4 CYCLISTS For more information about the North Beauty in 1988. The AONB is Pennines contact the AONB Staff Unit on and off road also a UNESCO Global Geopark. Tel: 01388 528801 Email: [email protected] Tees dale from An excellent way of exploring the in Web: www.northpennines.org.uk middleton-in-tees dale North Pennines is by bike. This leaflet describes four routes of various lengths that can be started from Middleton-in- g❂❂d cycling code . Teesdale where you’ll find parking, Please follow this simple code to ensure enjoyable riding toilets and refreshments. and the safety of others. Obey the rules of the road ❂ Follow the Countryside Code. Three other leaflets in this series ❂ Follow the Highway Code Respect. Protect. Enjoy. Visit www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk highlight routes starting from Alston, The four routes are designed as a series of mainly circular routes Be courteous ❂ Look after yourself Allendale Town and Stanhope. starting from Middleton-in-Teesdale and linking into the Give way to pedestrians and horse riders. Don’t assume they ❂ Take care at junctions, when National Byway. can see or hear you cycling downhill and on loose ❂ Don’t expect to travel quickly or wet surfaces The terrain in the North Pennines means that it is impossible to on shared use cycle paths ❂ Carry food, repair kit, map, ❂ Ring a bell or call out to warn spare clothing and waterproofs avoid some climbs. There are steep hills on some and moderate ❂ A69 of your approach. Acknowledge Tell someone where you’re uphill sections on all of the routes. The routes are designed for people who give way going and when you’ll get back ❂ A68 reasonably fit people who are used to cycling. They are generally ❂ Respect the life and work of the Keep your bike well-maintained A692 countryside ❂ Consider wearing a helmet and A686 not suitable for children. bright clothing A689 Care for the environment A167 A691 ❂ Can you cycle the whole of your journey or reach the start Thank you for cycling! A6 by public transport? A686 A689 A690 M6 A68 The National Byway has been designed as Britain’s heritage cycling route. It is a signed route on quiet country lanes linking Produced by With the support of A688 A66 places of interest. More information from A67 www.thenationalbyway.org or call 01636 636818. A66 and the area’s nine A1(M) local authorities Design & Print Services, Durham County Council, 2005 middleton © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Durham County Council LA1000197 79 2005. Front cover photo: Philip Nixon Hannah’s home Shaped by history (Philip Nixon) Low Birk Hat on the Blackton Reservoir (Route 2) is the The area is shaped by a long history of farming, lead former home of Hannah Hauxwell. Hannah lived alone for mining and quarrying. Traditional management means many years at this isolated farm without running water or that Teesdale is still awash with flower-rich hay electricity. She became famous in a Yorkshire TV meadows. The whitewashed farm buildings of the Raby documentary in the early 1970s. REFRESHMENTS Estate are a distinctive feature in the upper dale. There are various pubs, restaurants and tearooms in Teesdale is a landscape of gentle dales and rugged rolling Full of character Middleton-in-Teesdale, Mickleton, Eggleston, moorland. The Tees has one of many sources on the Mickleton, Romaldkirk and Cotherstone are all attractive Romaldkirk and Cotherstone. flanks of Cross Fell. By the time it is joined by the Lune Teesdale (John Baxter) Cyclist (Philip Nixon) agricultural villages worth exploring for their pubs, churches and Balder below Middleton-in-Teesdale the valley has and village greens. Romaldkirk still has its village stocks! TOILETS broadened out. on this journey and reveals a landscape once You’ll find public toilets in Middleton-in-Teesdale. dominated by lead mining. Boom town! As you ride the route you’ll see lots of mine entrances, ACCOMMODATION Middleton-in-Teesdale was originally a small village but was associated buildings and ‘hushes’. Coldberry Gutter at A wide range of accommodation is available in the developed into the industrial boom town of the London the top of the valley is a fine example of a hush but other North Pennines, including hotels, guesthouses, Lead Company as its northern headquarters in 1815. smaller ones can also be seen throughout the area. Water was farmhouse B&Bs, self-catering cottages, caravan and Middleton House, now in private ownership, was built for dammed and then released in a torrent, removing soil and camping sites and group accommodation. the chief agent and can be seen to the west of the village. rocks, to expose lead veins on the surface that could then be Eggleston Hall Gardens The cast iron fountain in the centre of the village is a worked. These V-shaped landscape features are still easily Old walled gardens, containing many rare plants and shrubs. For further information: memorial to the London Lead Company and the benefits it spotted in the landscape. Café, bistro, gift and plant shop. Tel: 01833 650115 ❖ Contact Middleton-in-Teesdale Tourist Information brought. Those considered the most deserving employees of Coach House Tearoom & shop. Tel: 01833 650553 Centre on 01833 641001. the company were housed in New Town, a model housing Water sources ❖ Call 01388 528801 and estate at its eastern edge. ‘New Town’ is distinctively Routes 1 and 2 will take you around the reservoirs of Hannah’s Meadow and Barn request a North Pennines Baldersdale and Lunedale. The need for water in the growing Nature reserve looked after by designed with hipped gable ends to the houses and many Discovery Guide ornamental arches. Piped water was available and each towns of Middlesbrough and Stockton led to the construction Durham Wildlife Trust. An (inc. accomm. listing). house had its own vegetable garden. of the first reservoir at Hury in Baldersdale in the 1880s. exhibition in the barn explores ❖ Ask for a County Durham Blackton Reservoir followed 10 years later, whilst Grassholme what makes the meadow such a ❖ Visit ‘Meet the Middletons’ in the village to discover the Holiday Guide - in Lunedale was completed by 1914. The continued growth in fascinating place. Tel: 0191 3833354. intriguing history of Middleton as the London Lead the demand for water brought about the building of the larger Tel: 0191 5843934 ❖ Call the YHA on Company Town! Call 01833 640333 for more details. Balderhead and Selset Reservoirs at the head of each valley in Grassholme Visitor Centre 01629 825850 and ask In the footsteps of miners the 1960s. about ‘Camping Barns’. Tearoom (weekends only) Many of the lead miners in Middleton would have walked The reservoirs are now important not only as sources of water Northumbria Water. to the mines up the Hudeshope Valley. Route 4 takes you but also for leisure activities and wildlife conservation. Tel: 01833 641121 Eggleston Hall Gardens (Philip Nixon) key i Visitor centre/information P Parking y Picnic Areas c Refreshments | Public toilets ¤ Public telephone A Place / Feature of interest Steep descent (points down hill) Good viewing point National Byway Railway Path Off-road section Take care! land under 350m (approx.1150ft) 350 - 400m (approx.1300ft) 400 - 450m (approx.1450ft) 450 - 500m (approx.1650ft) 500 - 550m (approx.1800ft) 550 - 600m (approx.2000ft) land over 600m (approx.2000ft) Upper Teesdale (Graeme Peacock) ROUTE 2 utilises the first part of R1 (as far as 1.12) but then ROUTE 4 follows a rectangle follows an additional loop which can also be used to extend R1 to the north of Middleton-in- ROUTE 1 is the main circuit with a choice of two shorter variations which which it re-joins. R2 then follows very narrow minor roads as well Teesdale and is worth doing for can be selected at the appropriate junction. Each variation is worth doing in as off-road sections. This route is memorable for its fine off-road its scenery, views and descents its own right for the superb scenery, the magnificent views and the stunning sections although the narrow country lanes it otherwise uses are a - not to mention the heritage descents. Warning: always descend in full control - the roads are narrow joy to cycle on. The gentle ascent from the valley, with the value! with some sharp gravel-covered corners. associated views and options, makes this route a good choice for a The initial 1km is definitely The route starts in the main Tees valley but the character and scenery soon 2 wide range of cyclists. 3 uphill but well worth the effort, Intermediate grade. Full route requires reasonable fitness. even if you decide to walk and Route 4 changes as quiet country lanes gently gain height to offer excellent views of Route Route County Durham’s hidden ‘lake district’. On a fine day, these views change push this section! The route is 1 Approx. 34km Start: Main road junction in Middleton-in-Teesdale. Follow directions then level before dropping Route to vistas as an amplified reward for your effort. Approx. 12.5km Approx. 9.5km (21 miles) for R1 up to 1.12 (Hunderthwaite), then: 1.15 (8 miles) (6 miles) down to cross Hudeshope Beck Approx.