LDWA Northumbria Group - Durham Dales Challenge Walk - 17 Miles - 2017

This is our second year at Wolsingham Masonic Hall - GR NZ 073373  which is located on Church Lane, a narrow street. Following registration we are asking all walkers to assemble in St. Anne’s Recreation Ground (RG) behind the bowling green for a start at 9.00am This is behind (south) the building immediately in front of you as you enter the RG and where you have been asked to park your cars The walk will begin from here. To reach St. Annes RG from the WMH head down Church Lane, across Front Street, and proceed 80 yds to your right.

START  From St. Annes RG follow the footpath on the eastern side of the field heading towards the river and continue to the bridge. Go under the bridge and turn L to ascend to the road. Cross the bridge and bear R uphill. After 100 yds take the Weardale Way (WW) at GR NZ 074367 and follow this to Towdy Potts Farm. Pass though the farmyard, turning left through the gate to follow the WW to the ridge at GR NZ 063349. Turn R here and proceed to:

CP A GR NZ 053348 SUNNYSIDE EDGE 2.9 miles

No longer a bucket drop but here is where the 32 mile route turns left. You proceed straight on. A Marshal will be here to guide walkers.

CP B GR NZ 036341 ABOVE ALLOTMENT HOUSE. 4.2 miles

Onwards along the track (ignore paths on the L) to reach a small stand of trees with a fence in front. Turn L here picking up a path through the heather which narrows but then reaches a broad stony track. Turn R here and continue for another half mile to where it turns R again and here continue ahead on a moorland path through the heather. This swings L and follows marker posts and cairns to eventually pass a large boulder 20 yds above you on your R where you meet a path junction. Turn L down here to pass a line of three shooting butts on your L. On passing the last of these bear R and reach a stony track. Follow this and you will see the road ahead.

CP C GR NY 997307 LAYBY ON B6278 7.9 miles

From CP you will see a fingerpost on the roadside to the NW. Follow this across the moor (it is not as bad as it first seems and shorter than the road) to where it emerges on the road. Follow the road verge uphill another 400 yds WITH CARE- FAST TRAFFIC to cinder track on R at GR NY 991320 and follow this track. At the junction turn L and continue through old mine workings, crossing the Howden Burn.

Continue on this track to reach the road and ahead:

CP D GR NZ 006349 BOLLIHOPE 12.0 miles

The remainder of the route is on footpaths in the valley of the River Wear, much of it on the Weardale Way (WW). However there are some diversions as a consequence of the floods of two years ago. Please follow this guidance carefully to avoid incursions into the caravan sites. There are no further CPs

From CP follow the path with river on your L passing between old mine workings (quarry on R) and then passing limekilns on R. Through stile by metal gate in fence and over footbridge continuing on narrow path through gorse bushes and then trees (river now on R). Past rock buttress and second footbridge (river now on L) and emerge through gate to road. Turn R to White Kirkley.Cross L into the field at the stile and follow the WW over several more stiles and gates ignoring any other footpath signs eventually climbing a short hill to a kissing gate. Onwards with fence on L, up to a stile in corner of field and follow a path between two fences emerging on to a farm road. Turn L here, two further kissing gates then reaching a tarmac road. Turn L, downhill ignoring path on L, and into a wood.

Entering the wood pass take the footpath to your L at the fork junction after 100yds. Pass through two gateways, fork left downhill and arrive at kissing gate and railway track. There are trains running on this line today - 24th June - STOP - LOOK - LISTEN, cross and turn R. Take the riverbank path to a picnic area then bear R on a new yellow gravel path to a tarmac road. Turn R to pass between the caravan park reception on your R and the water feature on your L before turning L onto tarmac road at GR NZ 055368. (Please respect the quiet enjoyment of the caravaners on this stretch.)

Continue along the tarmac road then turn R on farm road (fingerpost) (fingerpost) and over level crossing. Go past the next caravan site on your L - do not take the gate just beyond this site. Follow the bridleway to just before Holebeck House and take the stile on L. Directly NE through the field, over stile, follow fields round to L and cross the railway again, care required as previously. Continue through several fields with railway on your R. Arriving at a narrow footpath straight ahead climb steps to road and turn L returning over the road bridge. When on N bank and take the outward path through St. Anne’s RG, crossing Front Street with care and back to the route HQ. 17.0 miles

FINISHED!!