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Hury Res, Romaldkirk Moor, Tees Railway Walk, Harter fell, Birk Hat, Co Durham.
[ 20.3 km] Thu 24 Feb 2011

NY 9663 1924
This is my first walk in the Baldersdale area. It was an easy drive along the M6, through Brough to the A66 then off to Cotherstone and the lane to Hury Reservoir. The car park was surprisingly large and no horrible pay and display machine either. It was also deserted when I set of north along the reservoir embankment. At the other side was another car park, this one had toilets and what looked like a pay and display parking machine.


Hury Bank Res., overflow and embankment.

ruins of Yew tree Farm

I then had a horrible thought that there may had been one in the park that I’d left and I’d missed it. I took a closer look and found that is was a machine for issuing fishing permits, phew… I followed the unmarked path through a gate and up a wet track to the ruins of Yew tree Farm. The path continued along a muddy track then though a field to some buildings by Hury Bank.

Path markings were none existent and I was to find that way marks would be few and far between. Mainly walking in Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire I have been used to generally good path markers. It seems like County Durham is a long way behind. I turned north to follow the minor road over Romaldkirk Moor. It is straight for a while on the approach to Howgill Grange then winds over the moor top. The weather was miserable and misty so I didn’t get the views that can be seen in good weather. Today is another case of the incompetence on the weather forecasters who had predicted clear skies and no cloud. I still don’t see how they can get things so wrong. I descended to West Pasture Road and crossed it to enter a field where the path goes. Across the field I couldn’t find where the path crossed the wall so had to climb over. Then I crossed Eller Beck to join a track along to Cote House Road. Along the road I joined the Tees Railway Walk which goes over the Lune Viaduct.


Lune Viaduct.

View from the Lune Viaduct.

There were impressive views down to the River Lune and the road below. It was a pleasant walk along what is now a nice green path. I joined the road for a while then up ahead saw a familiar ‘Pennine Way’ signpost. I followed it up the hillside. I hadn’t gone far when I was in mist with a head wind that was getting quite strong.

Higher up I found a deep ditch where there was some shelter from the wind. I used it to sit down for a while and eat my sandwiches. I continued up along the path to a wall and gate. The mist and wind were worse than ever. If the weather had been clear I would have followed the wall up Harter Fell where there is an O.S. trig point shown on the map. Because of the bad weather I continued along the path. I’d reached the highest point and for a while the path was level then started down. It was also much wetter and very muddy in places. So far I hadn’t seen any walkers, even though I’m on the Pennine Way. I was on a track for a while then left it to follow a faint path across fields towards North Wythes Farm. I was descending a steep grassy slope with the farm visible in the distance. I put my right foot down and instantly found myself sliding uncontrollable down as if I were on ice. My leg and then right foot buckled under me and I felt a searing pain in my ankle as I went down. I lay in the muddy grass totally winded and dazed. My first thought was could I move my foot. I was able to move it but knew it was very badly sprained and I was in some trouble. Eventually I got up and tested holding weight on the foot. It took my weight without any sharp pain indicating there was no breakage. I hobbled down the field and hopped over the stream to join the track to the farm.


Swollen ankle but no bones broken.
From an x-ray taken the following day.

 I was only just half way in to a 14 mile walk so I had 7 miles of painful walking to get me back to the car. Down the farm track I reached the road, crossed it and continued down wet fields to the next farm at Grassholme Farm. Path marking were still sparse. I joined another lane and crossed the Grassholme Reservoir causeway. I now had a choice to make. The Pennine way heads across boggy moor but a narrow lane runs almost parallel. I took the sensible route and followed the lane. It was interesting heading up the lane as I could see one, then another, survey pillar. These are usually placed along the line of a tunnel to aid survey navigation. A large spoil tip by the first pillar indicated I was right. Over the moor I reached the bottom road and turned right to re-join the Pennine Way route.


Low Birk Hatt

Turning left on to the farm track I saw a sign which reminded me of a television documentary made many years ago in the early 70s. The sign said ‘Hannahs Meadow – High Birk Hatt’. The programme was about Hannah Hauxwell who lived and farmed alone at Low Birk Hat farm without electricity or running water. Down the lane were wooden walk boards leading across the meadow to a barn which had some old farm implements exhibited inside. At the end of the lane was Low Birk Hat where Hannah used to live. I left the Pennine Way end headed east across fields to a track by one of the series of reservoirs. I had to hang on to my hat crossing the causeway dam as the wind was still as strong as ever. I soon joined the road and hobbled back to the car. The last mile seemed to take ages.