Waskerley

A variety of flora and fauna can be seen on this mixed farm and moorland walk which follows part of the Pennine Way. Here you’ll find Hannah’s meadow, a haven for wild summer flowers maintained by the Wildlife Trust, and walk alongside three different reservoirs. The nearby welcoming town of Barnard Castle is well worth a visit offering a variety of shops and tearooms for you to explore. There’s a wealth of nearby attractions including ‘Meet the Middletons’ in the little town of Middleton-in-Teesdale, with interactive activities, traditional crafts and music for all ages to enjoy.

START/PARKING

Waskerley Station car park GRID REF NZ051454

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

1. Walk back along the road just driven. At the junction, turn left and first right on the footpath. (To shortern the walk, turn right to the end of the dam). Circle Smiddy Shaw reservoir clockwise (the crossing of the dam is a permitted path). There are fine views of Horseshoe Hill and Muggleswick Common to the east and the Cheviot Hills to the north. At the south end of the dam, make a U-turn left along a path which bears right to the white-painted Moorcock pub. Pass the pub and take the footpath left.
2. You will see distant farms; head for the one on the left on an indistinct green lane. After a gate, you come to a small hillock. Circle it left, past a rabbit warren and go to the derelict farm (Cushat Leazes). If it is boggy, a dry path may be found near the fence. Turn right through a gate to Carp Shield Farm, passing it left, and straight on through the next gate (climb it if necessary). Cross the field to a stream fringed by trees and turn left to the gate at the bottom of the field. Keep descending and bear right into a wood, passing a small barn on your left. Continue through the wood on an indistinct path to the right of a fallen tree for 150m to a gate and road.
3. Turn right and climb up the road to a signed footpath left. Along this path there are good valley views left and possible picnic spots. Continue to a footbridge but do not cross it. Turn right, ascend through the woods on a rough track to meet a fence which you keep on your right, to a gate. Follow the waymarker diagonally left to a gate with a waymarked sign. Continue to Middle Horsleyhope Farm.
4. Go straight through two gates and turn left to the gate in the left corner of the field with a waymarker. Walk left of derelict Low Horsleyhope Farm to a stile. Bear left and after 10m turn right for 15m to meet a path descending left. Cross the footbridge and bear left. After approximately 100m, exit the woods, turn right along a line of low trees to a stile and the road.
5. Turn right down the road and take the first left, signed to Waskerley Pallets. Continue up the land and cross Nanny Mayer’s Incline (a former railway track). Go through the gate opposite, follow the path and cross the Waskerley Way. Continue to Oxen Law Farm. Turn right at the crossroads, left to Bee Cottage and follow the waymarkers over a stile right to Red House Farm.
6. Keep left of the brick barn, then right through the farmyard and left to cross the Waskerley Way. Cross a stile and continue on the footpath across the moor. Do not go through the gate left, but continue to meet the Waskerley Way again. Turn right and return to the start of the walk.