Rookhope, Reahope Moor, Stanhope
Common, Co Durham. |
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OS Grid Ref: NY 95262
40531 It’s been over a year since I walked in the Stanhope area and as I’d seen another anomaly about the existence of a benchmark on the map I thought I’d return. To the SE of Rookhope is Reahope Moor and a trig post shown on the 1:50K map but not the 1:25K map. There is a narrow lane between Rookhope and Stanhope. Near Ambling Gate the walled section moves into open moor and plenty of room to leave my car. |
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It was overcast weather but didn’t seem like rain was on its way. I walked south east along the lane until I’d passed the buildings of Hill Top. Then I left the road and headed north up onto the moor. There was no path to follow but the ground wasn’t too bad and as I climbed higher it became much easier underfoot. There was evidence of old workings around then the trig post came in to view. It is certainly there on the ground so I can’t understand why the Ordnance Survey doesn’t show it on the 1:25K map. |
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There was now a faint path to follow north across Raehope Moor and up to East Slate Quarry Hill. On my right I noticed a flat area that had all the appearances of a mine spoil heap. I check it out and found it was and the old filled in entrance was nearby. I re-joined the path and continued north. My next objective was a long deep groove in the hillside that I’d seen on the aerial view map. It was off the path but worth the detour. |
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It’s definitely man made and at first I thought was a stone chimney flue which is fairly common in the area. Once there it didn’t have any characteristics of a flue and there were no chimney remains at the top. Part way along was the ruin of a stone building but I couldn’t figure out what it could have been used for. |
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Again I re-joined the path and headed for a stone cairn in the distance. A farmer was riding his quad bike nearby and as he returned to pass nearby didn’t look up to acknowledge my existence. |
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After the cairn I walked across to a nice circular sheepfold to have my lunch. There was hardly any wind and many crane-flies flapped about annoyingly. I headed downhill to have a look at Wright’s Groove Quarry before climbing again to re-join the track. Instead of following the track I headed steeply up to investigate the summit plateau of Long Law and a small tarn. |
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Descending by another stone sheepfold I re-joined the track again to its junction with Bolt’s Law incline. I walked here last year and descended the same route down into Rookhope. I followed the narrow road through the village to the next junction then up the minor road to St John’s Church. |
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Unfortunately it was closed and locked but a sign on the notice board said ‘Bless all the Cyclists on the Coast to Coast’. Another mile of road walking and I was back at the car. |
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