|
Underlined Text & Images are used for Hyper-Links to more Relevant
Information
©
Copyright 2006
Last modified:
September 06, 2006 |
| |
|
Upper Weardale & The North Pennines |
|
Stanhope to Alston & back over the Moors |
Stanhope a market town for moorland farmers
lies in the Wear valley, high up on it's winding route from Sunderland through
Durham to it's source in the Northern Pennine hills. Forty years ago in a local
quarry a 250 million year old fossilised tree was discovered and is now located
in the town churchyard.
Leaving Stanhope in an easterly direction following the
river Wear to Eastgate where there is a view point looking south over the
valley, further on to Westgate which was the west entrance to the Bishop of
Durham's Castle. There are some castle remains left with an old mill and water
wheel.
| At St John's Chapel there is a car park
with facilities before passing through Ireshopeburn to Wearhead where the
road rises towards Alston through Cowshill and Lanehead to the Killhope
Mining Museum and picnic area.
Click Image
for Web Site
Cowshill in Upper Weardale Map Tel: 01388 537 505 |
 |
 |
The Killhope Wheel
reconstruction of a Pennine Lead Mine depicts the life of Victorian Miners
with hands on experience for the willing. Powered by the restored water
wheel it offers a full days family activities with Cafe, Shop and Woodland
Walks. |
| The mining
experience can be continued at Nenthead a few miles over the summit
(2,056ft) in the Nent valley where the Heritage Centre offer trips underground in the Pennine Lead Mines.
There is a Shop, Cafe and Bunkhouse Accommodation available.
Tel
01434 382 037 |
 |
 |
Nenthead was built in the early 19th
Century to house the Pennine Lead mining community and has the highest
Chapel and Vicarage in England being over 2,000 feet up in the Pennines.
There are two routes down into Alston both offering enjoyable views,
continue on to the main road through Nenthead or turn left down to Garrigill
where the Post Office offers B&B and follow the South Tyne river down to
Alston |
| Alston has been the centre of ore mining
in the North Pennines since before the Romans built it into an industry to
support their Empire, of which Tyne Valley and Hadrian's Wall was it's
furthest frontier from Rome. Silver, Copper and Iron were among the many
ores extracted from the hills and with the closure of the last Drift Coal
mine in 2002, only small quantities of anthracite is produced. |
 |
 |
The cobbled main street with a stone
roofed market house protecting the village cross under, give a 18-19th
Century periodic perspective to the village which has been used in many Film
& TV Dramas the most recent being Oliver Twist. |
| The
Greycroft
Guest House offers accommodation only a short walk from the
centre over the river from the Victorian Rail Station
which has been brought back to life by the
South Tynedale Railway, who run Steam
Trains down the valley. |
The Raise, Alston |
 |
Alston is 1,000 feet
below Nenthead and 2,000 ft below the summit of Cross Fell which at 2,930
ft. is the highest peak in the Pennine Chain of hills which run down the
centre of England from the Cheviot Border Hills in the North to the
Derbyshire Peaks in the South. The Pennine Way is a long distance footpath
which runs 270 miles along the Pennine Chain through Alston, Garrigill and
over Cross Fell.
Click Here to follow
a couples adventures along the way. |
| Leaving Alston
heading north on the Hexham road we steadily rise onto Whitfield Moor past
the last Pennine coal mine to close, before dropping into Whitfield in
Allendale where we turn right at the Elk's Head to rise to Allendale Town.
|
 |
 |
On New Years Eve the Northumbrian Village of Allendale celebrate the New
Year with a unique ceremony at mid night on New Years Eve each year with a
colourful procession through the town. Click the image for detailed Info on The
Tar
Barrels Celebration |
| Leaving Allendale in
a southerly direction to Allenheads we follow the river up the Allen valley
which was once a thriving lead mining community till 1896 when the last mine
closed.
Most of the villages in the area have a connection to the days of lead
mining which is depicted at the Allenheads Heritage Mining
Centre with portrays the history of the local lead mines. |
 |
 |
With the smelters being in the valley and
giving off toxic fumes stone flues were built up to chimneys up on the
moors, they were large enough to walk through and protected by being buried
in earth.
Turning east from Allenheads
passing disused mines and a quarry on the way up onto Redburn Common, the
local farmers share the grassing rights on these moors walk miles with there
dogs to collect their sheep. |
| We then dropping down into the Rookhope
Burn where we turn north back up onto the Moors towards Blanchland
Blanchland received it's name from the White (blanc) Cannons, a silent order
of monks who built an Abbey here in the 12th Century and was often visited
by the Border Reivers from the North to plunder the monastery.
|
 |
Lord Crewe Arms |
On one such raid they lost their way in
the fog on the moors, the Monks later believing the threat was over rang the monastery
bells in celebration, giving the raiding party directions to their ultimate
goal. The existing village was built in the 18th Century although
Lord Crew Arms dates back to
the 13th Century when it was as it is today a Guest House. In the lounge
Chimney the priests hole (hideout) is still to be seen where the Silver
mined locally and refined by the Monks was hidden |
| Leaving Blanchland in an easterly
direction towards Edmundbyers we pass the Derwent Reservoir and the Pow Hill
Country Park which has parking and facilities for the visitor. The dam was
built in 1967 creating a centre for sailing and fishing being well stocked
with both Brown and Rainbow Trout. |
 |
At Edmundbyers we turn south and rise over Muggleswick
Common before dropping back down into the Wear Valley to Stanhope.
Photos and Maps are to follow
|
|
Http: