The Teesdale Way is a long-distance walk between the Cumbrian Pennines and the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire in England. The walk is in length; it links in with other long-distance walks such as the Pennine Way and the E2 European Walk between Harwich and Stranraer.
The route
The Teesdale way starts at Dufton in Cumbria as part of the Pennine way, but does not become its own path (with waymarkers) until it reaches Middleton-in-Teesdale. The path ends at South Gare in Warrenby near Redcar, having passed through the heavily industrialised Teesside area, consisting of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Thornaby-on-Tees. This gives an insight into the once ship building and industrial heritage of the North East. Between Middleton-in-Teesdale and Middlesbrough, the way runs for jointly with the European E2 path.
Between Yarm and Croft-on-Tees the river goes through the meandering lowland section of the Tees Valley. As the river flows through Upper Teesdale, it passes through the historic settlements of Piercebridge and Barnard Castle.
The route can also be seen as starting at the county boundaries between Cumbria and County Durham near to Cow Green Reservoir. Also in Upper Teesdale the walk makes a U-turn at Eggleston Hall, heading down the other side of the dale, back to Barnard Castle.
Thornaby and Bassleton woods are connected to each other. They are located in Thornaby, in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. A section of the way between Middlesbrough and Redcar was known locally as 'The Black Path' and was used by steelworkers.
At , Thornaby Woods is a large area of ancient woodland and features trees such as oak, elm and wych-elm. Roe deer have been seen in and around Thornaby and Bassleton woods.
Sights and attractions
Industrial Teesside Teesside Steel Works, Lackenby Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge
Tees Corridor Teessaurus Park Tees Newport Bridge A19 Tees Viaduct Tees Barrage and Tees Barrage International White Water Course Infinity Bridge Princess of Wales Bridge Teesquay Millennium Bridge Victoria Bridge
Nature reserves Maze Park Nature Reserve, Middlesbrough Black Bobbies Field Nature Reserve, Thornaby-on-Tees Bowesfield Nature Reserve, Thornaby-on-Tees Bassleton Wood, Thornaby-on-Tees Gainford Spa Nature Reserve, Gainford
Waterfalls High Cup Nick Cauldron Snout High Force Low Force
Museums Great Holme Museum, Eaglescliffe Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
Stately homes Rokeby Park, Whorlton Eggleston Hall
Ruins Medieval village of Newsham Sockburn Church Ruins Castle Hill, Blackwell Baydale Chapel Ruins Gainforth Mill Piercebridge Roman Fort Piercebridge Roman Bridge Mortham Tower, near Greta Bridge Egglestone Abbey Cotherstone Castle
Village churches St John's Church, Low Dinsdale All Saints Church, Girsby All Saints Church, Hurworth-on-Tees St Peter's Church, Croft-on-Tees St Edwin's Church, Coniscliffe St Mary's Church, Piercebridge St Mary's Church, Gainford St Andrew's Church, Winston St Mary's Church, Whorton St Romald's Church, Romaldkirk
Other South Gare Butterfly World, Eaglescliffe Whorlton Lido Deepdale Aqueduct Octagonal Market Cross, Barnard Castle.
Settlements
Dufton Middleton-in-Teesdale Eggleston Romaldkirk Startforth Barnard Castle Whorlton Winston Gainford Piercebridge Carlbury High Coniscliffe Merrybent Low Coniscliffe Blackwell Stapleton Croft-on-Tees Hurworth Place Hurworth-on-Tees
Neasham Sockburn Girsby Low Dinsdale Over Dinsdale Middleton St George Middleton One Row Low Worsall Aislaby Yarm Eaglescliffe Preston-on-Tees Thornaby-on-Tees Stockton-on-Tees Middlesbrough North Ormesby Dormanstown Warrenby
References
External links The Durham Cow website - breaks the route down and has detailed maps GPS walking and cycling webpage