Durham Dales,Tunstall Valley, Wolsingham in Weardale

DISTANCE: 11.8 KM (7.5 MILES)
GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE (Waterproofs Recommended)
TIME: 3-4 HOURS
EXPLORER MAP:OL 31

The walk takes you from Wolsingham, gateway to Weardale, to the wooded banks of Tunstall Reservoir, walking high on both sides of the valley. The Durham Prince Bishops developed Wolsingham from the 12th Century onwards as deer-hunting country and it is still well-wooded with pleasant grass.

START/PARKING

Demesne car park on the B6296 at Wolsingham. OS Map Grid Reference NZ076376

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

Leave the car park by the footpath near a gate. Ignoring a track going left, stay beside Waskerley
Beck and cross a grassed area diagonally to a kissing gate. The path follows the beck to a small bridge over a mill leat. Cross a step-stile and turn right to a bridge and stile. Cross and keep right above the beck. At a kissing gate turn left along the edge of two fields, beside a hedge.

Carry on along the path and onto land owned by the National Trust, the path continues along the cliff top and then runs alongside the railway line. Follow the path across the line, into the woodland and then through the hay meadow, managed by Durham Wildlife Trust, which leads on across the stream and up the bank.

Follow the track around two sides of a conifer plantation overlooking the valley of Waskerley Beck.
A green lane descends into the valley, offering glorious views to Wolsingham, to meet a stony track.
Bear left past Jofless Cottage to reach High Jofless. Swing right to enter the farmyard and circle the
buildings. Descend past the card shed and farm and, after a gate, turn left along the top of a grass field.
After another gate, aim half right to a stone stile, continuing in the same line to a gate. Pass the foot of Machine Gill Wood and go on to the gate and road. Turn left to the corner of Tunstall Reservoir.

Continue past the house. Then take the lakeside path. After the fishing lodge, join the broad briefly then
return to the lakeside. Go through wooden kissing gate and turn right along farm road, cross stone bridge and then right through another wooden kissing gate into Backhouse Woods. Follow path through woods along edge of Reservoir and turn
left onto a steep winding farm track climbing through Backstone Bank Wood (Site of Special Scientific Interest) to Backstone Bank Farm, and a fine view of the lower valley.

Just past buildings, bear right on a grass track below wall along the valley edge, then stay close to Fawn Wood. Ignoring side tracks, go on to cross Spring Gill Beck and up through two small gates. Go straight ahead across two large fields, after which there is a fence on the right. Approaching the farmhouse, the track bears slightly left, circle right past buildings of Baal Hill House, a large 16th Century Grade II listed building.

Take the route directly left across pasture below the farm and follow track cutting through woodland.
Follow the left-hand field boundary to a road with executive housing. Turn right along the road for 50
metres and take the indicated footpath left. This path passes bumps in a field, said to be the
remains of a hunting lodge. Go through the kissing gate, the cross-field path leads to another, and then
a back lane. On reaching the main road, turn right, then right over a stone bridge and right again into the car park.