High Force Round

Invigorate your spirits on a walk within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and come face-to-face with the might of High Force - England’s largest waterfall. There are equally impressive sights in the surrounding area too, including the imposing Raby Castle with its 200-acre deer park; the world-class art, ceramic and textile collections at The Bowes Museum.

START/PARKING

Park at Bowlees picnic area off B6277, 3 miles west of Middleton-in-Teesdale.
OS Map Grid Reference NY907282

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

1. From the car park, cross the bridge over Bowlees Beck, up some steps and into the garden of the visitor centre. On leaving the garden, immediately turn right and pass through a gate onto a track. The track passes through a number of gates, which should be left as found. Follow the track past Ash Head Farm. From this point there are lovely views both up and down Teesdale, ahead of you and in the distance below is the wooded gorge. Continue down the hill into Dirt Pit hamlet (derived from ‘deer path’ which links it with the ancient forest of Teesdale) ignoring any public footpath signs along the way.
2. Continue along the track through Dirt Pit, to where it divides at a road junction. Take either divide and cross the road to a stile and public footpath sign. Cross the large field, using the duck-boarding provided to cross over a small stream, and follow the way-marker posts to a gate near a small stone building on a small hill.
3. Pass around the building to the right and head diagonally across the top of the hill to a gate next to a second public footpath sign. Pass through the gate and cross the stile on the left to go down to the picnic area and car park next to High Force Hotel. The entrance to High Force waterfall is on the opposite side of the B6277 and there is a small entry charge payable at the kiosk, if you wish to visit the falls. Return to the road at this point to continue your circular walk.
4. From the hotel walk along the footway on the south side of the road for a few yards to a public footpath sign fixed to a road sign reading no footpath for 550 metres. Go through a gate onto a downhill path which soon joins some steep stone steps with a chain link handrail, down to the River Tees.
5. Follow the riverside path downstream to Holwick Head Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn immediately left to follow the Pennine Way past Low Force to Wynch Bridge. There are lovely flowers along this section of the river bank, including the yellow Globe Flower and the delicate pink Birdseye Primrose.
6. Cross the Wynch Bridge and follow the path across two fields between trees and a stone squeeze stile to the B6277. Cross the road and join a lane which leads easily back to the visitor centre and the start.