Gary Richardson, Darlington-based freelance photographer and writer, details the North East’s best walks. This month, he’s visiting God’s Bridge…
Route Info:
7.5 miles/12 Km with 630 feet/190m of ascent
Maps: 1:25K OS Outdoor Leisure 31 or 1:50K OS Landranger 92
Start: Bowes village. Grid ref: NY995135 …. Post Code: DL2 9HU
Parking: small parking area opposite the village hall.
Where to Eat and Drink: The Ancient Unicorn Inn, Bowes village. 01833 628321
An interesting walk around through the River Greta valley, which before the local government reorganisation in 1974 was part of North Yorkshire, but now is part of County Durham.
The walk makes use of the two sections of the ‘Bowes Loop’ on the Pennine Way. The first half, over the bleak remote heather covered Bowes Moor, is in stark contrast to the return leg which follows, for most of the way, the wild flower meadows along the banks of the River Greta.
The walk starts in Bowes village, located a few miles south of Barnard Castle, alongside the busy A66 trans Pennine road.
From village hall car park head west straight along main street through village. Just after passing Dotheboys Hall, which features in Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby, turn right with the road to cross the A66 and climb up to Clint Top. There are good views over the Greta valley from here.
Continue along road passing through remains of an old military storage site, where the foundations of many bunkers can still be seen. There are plenty of warnings signs advising of unexploded bombs and poisonous gas. Don’t worry! It’s years since this site was used, and as long as you stay on the road, there will be no danger.
After about 1.5 miles you will reach the isolated farm of West Stoney Keld (A).
Here go through gate in stone wall, and then leave Pennine Way by turning left and take rough vehicle track heading SW towards Ravock, at first following the wall on the left. Where this track makes a sharp right turn, go straight ahead to follow a faint path through heather which is waymarked with posts and cairns, to reach a boundary stone (B).
Even though there is a faint path, in poor weather/visibility this section of the walk could require the use of map and compass.
Keep on across the heather moor and after about a mile another wall is reached. Turn right to follow it west to reach the other branch of the Bowes Loop on the Pennine Way, close to the farm buildings at Pasture End. Turn left and follow the track downhill towards the busy A66.
Luckily there’s no need to risk your life having to cross this, on reaching the fence beside the road, go to the right to find an underpass. Go through this and go left over the fields, following the track downhill to God’s Bridge (C).
This is a natural limestone bridge over the River Greta. The river bed is usually dry, as it runs underground, as is common with lots of rivers and streams in limestone areas.
Leave God’s Bridge by going through gate in wall to find a new graded track through the fields (a permissive path not shown on OS map). This takes you through the meadows along banks of river, past East Mellwaters to footbridge over Sleightholme Beck at West Charity (D).
After crossing bridge, go left across the field to reach a track. Go right along this and pass through yard of the farm. The track then turns left and heads through fields towards Lady Myres. Pass through farm and continue on track to reach a finger post. Turn left and head across field to reach footbridge over River Greta.
Cross this and climb to Swinholme where a lane is joined heading back towards Bowes. There are good views of the castle from here. Upon reaching a stile over the fence on the right you have a choice of routes. Either follow Pennine Way over the fields to Bowes Castle and back to the village, or follow the stream (right) downhill through the field to reach River Greta again.
Turn left and take the path downstream to reach the lovely waterfall of Mill Force. From there take the path heading diagonally uphill across field to walled lane, and follow it uphill to reach lane close to church and castle. Turn right and follow this lane back to car park.
For more of Gary’s work, visit www.garyrichardson.me.
