Middleton-One-Row & Dinsdale Wood

Enjoy a circular route, starting in the picturesque village of Middleton-one-Row, winding your way though Dinsdale Wood, home to the Old Spa house, now converted into attractive residential properties. At Low Dinsdale see the church of St John the Baptist, dating back to AD 638, as well as the medieval earthworks guarding the manor house. Please note that this walk, in particular, can be slippery and muddy in parts at any time of the year.

START/PARKING

Middleton-one-Row village green. Limited on-street parking. OS MAP GRID REF NZ354123

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

1. From Middleton-one-Row village green, stand with your back to the Devonport Hotel, facing the River Tees, (down the slope) and turn right, following the pavement for approx 50m (55 yards). On reaching the Teesdale Way sign, head diagonally to the right across the green. Before the end of the green, follow a path leading into trees, heading right and down towards the river. After descending steps, ignore a sharp left turn to the river and go through a gap in a fence onto a narrow path. Follow the full length of this path, alongside the river, exiting through a gap in the fence to a lay-by area and lane.
2. Head left, through the Dinsdale Spa gateway, following the track, then the waymarked path, crossing a lawn area between a house and the river. Cross a stile and follow the main path through Dinsdale Wood, which is muddy in most seasons and roughly follows the line of the river but undulates through dense woodland (ignore waymarks pointing off to the right leading further into the wood). Cross a stile and exit the wood into an open field.
3. Head away from the river, diagonally crossing the field, to the right of a line of trees that juts out into the field. On reaching a footbridge you may like to take a short detour to see the Church of St John the Baptist, Low Dinsdale, (straight ahead). Otherwise, don’t cross the footbridge, turn around (facing away from the church) and head up to the left hand corner of the field. The field to your left contains medieval earthworks. Cross the stile in the corner of the field, turn right and follow the field edge path uphill.
4. At the top of the hill, pause to enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Cross a stile, turn right and follow the field edge path. On reaching the wood continue on the field edge path to the left of the wood (ignore waymarks into the wood and do NOT take the steps down onto the golf course). Follow the spur of the golf course, which bends round to the right, then enter the golf course and stay on the main track - be extremely vigilant for flying golf balls!
5. On exiting the golf course, follow the lane to the right through ‘The Courtyard’ and downhill. At the bottom of the lane, cross a stile, to the right of a driveway, and follow the footpath to exit via a gate and turn left, following the lane alongside the river. Exit the main gates and take the footpath to the right, following the riverside path back, where the path divides take the left fork uphill and back up steps to Middleton-One-Row.