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Above Stanhope, Parkhead Station, Collier Law, Waskerley Reservoir, Skaylock Hill, Co. Durham.
 [16.5 km]  Wed 10 Aug 2016
OS Grid ref: NZ 00278 43119
Lat/Long: 54.782978, -01.997199

 I drove to the start of my walk via the M6, Tebay, Barnard Castle, Stanhope and up to the start at Parkhead Station. By the old railway station is a car park that is probably not just for the refurbished station buildings which now have a café but for access to the Waskerley Way along the old railway route. I followed the Waskerley Way path to the south then turned left to follow a track by the old quarries and towards Collier Law summit.
Waskerley Way
An unmarked van drove up the track behind me so I stepped aside to let him pass. The driver gave me a wave as he drove by.  I wondered what he was doing in such a remote location but I soon found out when I saw him parked up ahead by a tall radio mast. When I arrived the gate in the surrounding fence was open and he was inside a small building at the base. I asked him what the mast was for and we had an interesting conversation. He said it was for radio transmission monitoring which were possibly illegal and could interfere with emergency services. It was one of a network covering the country.
Monitoring aerial

Collier Law trig post
I didn’t realise that CB radio (Citizens Band) was still a problem and also some pirate radio stations are still broadcasting. I left and continued along the track to Collier Law summit and the O.S. trig post. The weather was nice and I had good views. I followed the fence and wall down back to the track through a gate and continued along the track to the NE with lovely views ahead. Just over a mile I came to a wooden shooting hut which was unlocked.
Shooting hut and shelter
It was very nice inside with table, benches and a couple of comfy seats. I sat on the door step outside to eat my butties in the sunshine. I continued along the track then sharp left to follow another track to continue to a watercourse which was a man-made structure to take water to the Waskerley Reservoir ahead.
Hut interior

Waskerley Reservoir from the embankment
Waskerley Reservoir buidings
A track followed the watercourse to Waskerley Reservoir which was constructed in 1877 as a water supply. As I walked across the embankment I stopped for a while to chat to an elderly couple who were out for a walk. At the north end of the embankment I turned right to follow a minor path along another intake waterway along the contour.
Stone hut near the old quarry

Stone wall with unusually large stones
It was bit rough in places and at the second footbridge I crossed over to the north side and continued across rough ground to a stone hut by and old quarry. I reached a line of shooting butts and the going became easier.
Refurbished shooting butt
I turned left at a minor track which follows the line of a gas pipeline which had left its mark across the landscape. Before reaching the line of the old railway I cut off to the left to cross rough ground to a structure that the map says is a chimney. It was square stone base with a brick column on the top. It certainly wasn’t a chimney and a possibility is it could have been a survey pillar used during the construction of the nearby reservoirs.
The chimney that isn't

Nice to see people enjoying the cycle track
I headed NW across rough ground, crossed the reservoir access road and reached the old railway route which is a path and coast to coast cycleway. It was nice to see people out enjoying the track and there were several groups of cyclists enjoying the track and nice weather.
The old snow fence on the railway

Old railway sleepers
S&DR
Stockton and Darlington Railway
Along the track were several stone posts with S&DR cut in them. I assume this means Stockton and Darlington Railway. It was a lovely walk back to my car at the Parkhead Station buildings. The railway was opened around 1845 mainly for goods but later carried passengers nut only for about 20 years. The line finally closed about 1965.
Entrance to B&B and Tea Rooms