Walk Report

The 20 mile walk last Saturday 12th March began at the Dales Centre in Stanhope, in Weardale, right on my doorstep - a spendidly varied walk (as varied as the weather!) which took us to the very windswept tops, affording glorious scenic views, to the sheltered sunny bottom of the dale. It followed Weardale's mining heritage beginning with a short climb up to Ashes Quarry above Stanhope. This was one of many old quarries in Weardale that took advantage of what is known as the Great Limestone which, at 20m, is one of the thickest layers of limestone in the North Pennines. Limestone quarrying at Ashes, at the foot of the unique Crawleyside incline, began in the 1870s. The large scale extraction of limestone from the dale had been made possible by the opening of the Stanhope and Tyne Railway in 1834. In 1900 the quarry was bought by The Consett Iron Co. Ltd to secure a supply of limestone for its expanding steel works. In 1920 the quarry employed 200 men but production finally stopped in the 1940s due to the effort and cost of removing the overburden as they dug further into the hillside. Left behind is a huge, mile-long hole. We followed the line of the incline to Crawleyside with magnificent views over Weardale. The walk turned east over moorland and passed derelict cottages towards the mast above Frosterley (to which I have climbed from the village many a time). Heading north to our highest point, the windswept Fatherley Hill with 360 degree views, we turned in a north westerly direction along a track to Parkhead which is on the Waskerley Way. Crossing the moorland road above Crawleyside we followed the path of the old railway line between Rookhope and Tow Law which from there went on to the Tyne. It was the highest ever standard guage railway in the UK. And didn't we know it - a long stretch with a strong side wind and biting hail! Eventually we reached the former Bolt's Law Standing Engine House at the top of Bolts Law railway incline above Rookhope. The Standing Engine hauled up trucks of iron ore and limestone for the iron works at Tow Law. We dropped down in Rookhope and to welcome sunshine, passing some astonishing homes on wheels, to enjoy our lunch break. From here we followed, in part, the Weardale Way alongside Rookhope Burn, passing the remains of Brandon Walls Lead Mine which was first recorded in 1662, though most of what is visible today relates to 19th Century activity. It wasn't as productive as other mines in the area and closed in the 1880s. It is a muddy route in parts but very pretty. And so we descended into Eastgate and followed the Weardale railway line and path along the River Wear to Stanhope. From winter above Rookhope we found ourselves bathed in spring sunshine and, for the first time this year, the jackets and outer layers that we had clung on to tightly when walking over the tops, had to be peeled off. The delightful stepping stones at Stanhope led us back to the car park and on to the friendly Grey Bull, a favourite haunt of many, and to a welcome pint of the black stuff and plenty of crack. Many thanks to Li Yang and Paul Nellist for leading the walk and for the good company of fellow walkers. Beryl Massey

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