Post by mick on Mar 4, 2015 5:02:39 GMT
I discovered this (well I didn’t actually discover it as it was always there) when driving up the road towards where I was going hiking for the day & what caught my eye was the waterfall coming down off Passpeth Sike .so I decided to stop at Shillmoor and have a wander along the river to have a look see. What I didn’t realise at the time what a great walk this could be for someone who like me wasn’t so able.
This walk ticked all my boxes,
It had toilets at Alwinton, further up the valley there is a tea room at Barrowburn,
You would never be more that 300 meters away from the road but walking down the river you would never know it.
And the views are really good.
I did this walk on a cold grey icy/snowy day, in the spring or summer it would be a delight. I have the impression when I redo this walk in the summer with my better half we will spend the hole day just sitting by the river not wanting to drag ourselves away .
The walk
Start at Shillmoor, there is plenty of off road parking there, and follow the river downstream there are quite a few well trodden sheep trails you just pick what’s best for you, & there is of course the choice of walking on the grass if you want to.
I must point out that there are a few very lumpy and bumpy sections especially when you get to the Medieval Village (no need to get excited its just grassy humps and bumps nothing to see) but you can simply walk around them, or you could use them to improve you walking skills after all that’s what you are out here for. Sorry back to the directions, follow the rivers downstream till you come to the road at Linbriggs
From there cross the road and enter the field it well worth it to see the water fall then its simply a case of heading up towards the sheep pens and getting back onto the road and walking back to the car. Now I must point out I really hate walking along the road but in this case I will make an exception for a small amount of uphill walking it gives really good views what you missed when walking along the river.
First photo taken looking across at the farmstead at Shillmoor
Looking back
And again
Irving Pool
Again looking back
The waterfall off Passpeth Sike (it all but disappears during the summer months)
Where I stopped for coffee, if you look very closely there are some very small footprints in the sand I don’t know what made them but there have been otters in this stretch of the river, who knows?
Another shot of the waterfall
Heading down stream
The water level must have got very high looking at the debris on the trees
Bend in the river , in the summer months it is possible to follow the path along the bottom , but due to all the rain and snow melt the river has burst its banks so for this walk I will that the high path.
Looking back at where the Medieval Village is. (See nothing but lumps and bumps)
Heading up the higher path looking back
Looking down, you can see where the river has flooded the pathway
Looking back
Looking down stream
Now just before the bridge looking back upstream
Looking towards where the river gets a bit rough
Having crossed over the road looking at the waterfall
Looking downstream towards Quickening Cote (not on our route today)
Now back on the road looking towards the waterfall
Looking back down towards the rapids
Across towards Peth Pass on Green side
Shillmoor
One last little waterfall
I should point out that this route is not shown on any maps but don’t worry its all on open access land & I have got the park Rangers involved to sort out any possible problems .and thanks to some Higher level funding(or something like that ) they will be constructing some sleeper bridges over some wet/boggy patches . I am not sure where or if the route will have to be altered, will find out in the summer.
This walk ticked all my boxes,
It had toilets at Alwinton, further up the valley there is a tea room at Barrowburn,
You would never be more that 300 meters away from the road but walking down the river you would never know it.
And the views are really good.
I did this walk on a cold grey icy/snowy day, in the spring or summer it would be a delight. I have the impression when I redo this walk in the summer with my better half we will spend the hole day just sitting by the river not wanting to drag ourselves away .
The walk
Start at Shillmoor, there is plenty of off road parking there, and follow the river downstream there are quite a few well trodden sheep trails you just pick what’s best for you, & there is of course the choice of walking on the grass if you want to.
I must point out that there are a few very lumpy and bumpy sections especially when you get to the Medieval Village (no need to get excited its just grassy humps and bumps nothing to see) but you can simply walk around them, or you could use them to improve you walking skills after all that’s what you are out here for. Sorry back to the directions, follow the rivers downstream till you come to the road at Linbriggs
From there cross the road and enter the field it well worth it to see the water fall then its simply a case of heading up towards the sheep pens and getting back onto the road and walking back to the car. Now I must point out I really hate walking along the road but in this case I will make an exception for a small amount of uphill walking it gives really good views what you missed when walking along the river.
First photo taken looking across at the farmstead at Shillmoor
Looking back
And again
Irving Pool
Again looking back
The waterfall off Passpeth Sike (it all but disappears during the summer months)
Where I stopped for coffee, if you look very closely there are some very small footprints in the sand I don’t know what made them but there have been otters in this stretch of the river, who knows?
Another shot of the waterfall
Heading down stream
The water level must have got very high looking at the debris on the trees
Bend in the river , in the summer months it is possible to follow the path along the bottom , but due to all the rain and snow melt the river has burst its banks so for this walk I will that the high path.
Looking back at where the Medieval Village is. (See nothing but lumps and bumps)
Heading up the higher path looking back
Looking down, you can see where the river has flooded the pathway
Looking back
Looking down stream
Now just before the bridge looking back upstream
Looking towards where the river gets a bit rough
Having crossed over the road looking at the waterfall
Looking downstream towards Quickening Cote (not on our route today)
Now back on the road looking towards the waterfall
Looking back down towards the rapids
Across towards Peth Pass on Green side
Shillmoor
One last little waterfall
I should point out that this route is not shown on any maps but don’t worry its all on open access land & I have got the park Rangers involved to sort out any possible problems .and thanks to some Higher level funding(or something like that ) they will be constructing some sleeper bridges over some wet/boggy patches . I am not sure where or if the route will have to be altered, will find out in the summer.