Post by mick on Mar 4, 2015 5:12:29 GMT
Today my better half and I decided to get up early and have a drive down to Bowlees (country Durham).
I had heard that there had been a lot of work done on the Pennine way footpath which runs along side of the river Tees making it even easer to walk along. (I must add that I didn’t think it was that bad when I last visited it about a year earlier).
Anyway we parked up at the visitors centre at Bowlees.(its free which is nice to know) Now during the summer months there is a really nice converted church here what doubles up as a tea room and an information centre well worth a visit.
There is also a lovely easy walk up along the Bow lee Beck to see the water fall at Gibson’s Cave. (Not our route for today) I will when I get time do a report on it.
One other thing there are toilets at the car park, but we found them to be disgusting today, (may be they only get cleaned during holiday season?) they where so bad that my better half said that she would sooner go in the bushes. (So I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to any one who received a bit of a scare first thing on Friday morning).
The walk, left the car park crossed the road walked across the field to the River, looking around it seems as if they where still working on the footpath at this section but it was still ok.
This brings you to the first waterfall, Low force not much to say about it, (look at the photos) this area is extremely busy during the warmer months it really is a lovely spot for pick nicks ect ect, sometimes its hard to find a space where you can even get a sitting down space.
We crossed over the Tees here, via the old Wynch Bridge, (there is an info board with all the facts if you want to know but to me a bridge is just a bridge) and headed upstream along the Pennine way towards High Force.
The views of the waterfalls are spectacular and my photos just don’t do them justice,
And the footpath for the most part is very easy to walk along. The people who have repaired this section have done a first rate job, striking the right balance between making it easy to walk on and blending it in with the surrounding area.
There is a small section where there are some stone steps to climb up which I think might cause a bit of trouble when wet and slippery but you can by pass these by simply walking up a grass path and going round them.
This path takes you straight to High Force I wont write anything about it go see it for yourselves you won’t be disappointed.
I had heard that there was another waterfall further (Bleabeck Force) up the river that was worth seeing so whilst we where here we decided to go see, still on the Pennine Way, but now as we where leaving the tourists bit the state of the path started to break up a bit, still doable but there are a few tricky places where care is needed.
We found the waterfall and what a gem it is, the strange thing is there is a stone Quarry on the opposite side of the river that must be the ugliest building known to man yet less that 400 meters away one of nature’s most beautiful sites.
From here we simply retraced our steps and returned using the same path as we came along.
In a fit of madness I promoted my better half to “team leader & chief pathfinder “& let her find the way back I even went as far as to offer her the privilege of carrying the ruck sack, which she point Blankley refused to do and I am pleased to say she got us back safely to the car Without getting us lost, what a girl eh!.
First sight of low force
My better half on the Wynch Bridge
Taken from the bridge part of low force
Me trying to look as if I’m not posing (holding tummy in)
Stone sheep
Low force from different positions
heading upstream
Looking back
Ahead and various river shots on our way upstream
Looking back and down at the stone stairs (might be a problem when wet)
High force
Closer
Very top
Looking from the top over the top.
Walking upstream
First sight of the stone quarry
Bleabeck Force
Just general photos of the same walk heading back towards the car
Some useless information for you all
Our route today kept us on the Pennine way side of the river; however there is a footbridge at Holwick Head House where you can cross over and head up to the high force hotel from here you can pay £1.50 to walk along the other side of the river to see the falls from the base looking up, there is also some wooden stairs which take you to the top. Again this is a very well managed man made path, and if you are not up to walking far the hotel has a car park £2.00 for the day (I think).
Last photo was taken from an previous visit from the base .
I had heard that there had been a lot of work done on the Pennine way footpath which runs along side of the river Tees making it even easer to walk along. (I must add that I didn’t think it was that bad when I last visited it about a year earlier).
Anyway we parked up at the visitors centre at Bowlees.(its free which is nice to know) Now during the summer months there is a really nice converted church here what doubles up as a tea room and an information centre well worth a visit.
There is also a lovely easy walk up along the Bow lee Beck to see the water fall at Gibson’s Cave. (Not our route for today) I will when I get time do a report on it.
One other thing there are toilets at the car park, but we found them to be disgusting today, (may be they only get cleaned during holiday season?) they where so bad that my better half said that she would sooner go in the bushes. (So I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to any one who received a bit of a scare first thing on Friday morning).
The walk, left the car park crossed the road walked across the field to the River, looking around it seems as if they where still working on the footpath at this section but it was still ok.
This brings you to the first waterfall, Low force not much to say about it, (look at the photos) this area is extremely busy during the warmer months it really is a lovely spot for pick nicks ect ect, sometimes its hard to find a space where you can even get a sitting down space.
We crossed over the Tees here, via the old Wynch Bridge, (there is an info board with all the facts if you want to know but to me a bridge is just a bridge) and headed upstream along the Pennine way towards High Force.
The views of the waterfalls are spectacular and my photos just don’t do them justice,
And the footpath for the most part is very easy to walk along. The people who have repaired this section have done a first rate job, striking the right balance between making it easy to walk on and blending it in with the surrounding area.
There is a small section where there are some stone steps to climb up which I think might cause a bit of trouble when wet and slippery but you can by pass these by simply walking up a grass path and going round them.
This path takes you straight to High Force I wont write anything about it go see it for yourselves you won’t be disappointed.
I had heard that there was another waterfall further (Bleabeck Force) up the river that was worth seeing so whilst we where here we decided to go see, still on the Pennine Way, but now as we where leaving the tourists bit the state of the path started to break up a bit, still doable but there are a few tricky places where care is needed.
We found the waterfall and what a gem it is, the strange thing is there is a stone Quarry on the opposite side of the river that must be the ugliest building known to man yet less that 400 meters away one of nature’s most beautiful sites.
From here we simply retraced our steps and returned using the same path as we came along.
In a fit of madness I promoted my better half to “team leader & chief pathfinder “& let her find the way back I even went as far as to offer her the privilege of carrying the ruck sack, which she point Blankley refused to do and I am pleased to say she got us back safely to the car Without getting us lost, what a girl eh!.
First sight of low force
My better half on the Wynch Bridge
Taken from the bridge part of low force
Me trying to look as if I’m not posing (holding tummy in)
Stone sheep
Low force from different positions
heading upstream
Looking back
Ahead and various river shots on our way upstream
Looking back and down at the stone stairs (might be a problem when wet)
High force
Closer
Very top
Looking from the top over the top.
Walking upstream
First sight of the stone quarry
Bleabeck Force
Just general photos of the same walk heading back towards the car
Some useless information for you all
Our route today kept us on the Pennine way side of the river; however there is a footbridge at Holwick Head House where you can cross over and head up to the high force hotel from here you can pay £1.50 to walk along the other side of the river to see the falls from the base looking up, there is also some wooden stairs which take you to the top. Again this is a very well managed man made path, and if you are not up to walking far the hotel has a car park £2.00 for the day (I think).
Last photo was taken from an previous visit from the base .