Ireshopeburn, Hawkwellhead, Weardale.
A view over Ireshopeburn and Hawkwellhead.
Whiteout on the Weardale Way (Section 1)
21st January 2018
Weardale Way
Section 1: Killhope to Killhope Bridge
So we have had the Weardale Way penciled in on the calendar for sometime and today was the day that we finally started section hiking the trail.
However, while we may have made plans back in 2017, the weather had other ideas. Sadly, getting a reliable weather forecast in the UK is very difficult and we had several conflicting reports. Some said that it would snow in the morning, others said it would snow in the afternoon, others said it would rain and not snow, and yet another said that it would just miss us falling in the Yorkshire Dales instead. So we took a gamble and went for it.
When we got over the tops there was a lot of snow. This wasn't problematic because the main roads were clear although there were several side roads that were closed. Our main concern was if it started to snow heavily and the roads back home closed.
First thing was crossing Killhope Burn... the ford was too deep for my boots (although Neil was wearing wellies), so I had to use the stepping stones but the stones had 2 inches of ice on the top and were very slippy. In the end, I had to break the ice of the stream and use that ice as make shift stepping stones. Our hike was nearly over before it began. After crossing the burn safely, our next obstacle was to be deep snow. This was great fun but tiring.
However, the obstacle that stopped the hike before the first section could be completed was a blizzard. It started coming over the tops of the hills where it was a whiteout and was heading into the vale where we were walking. The route home goes over the top of the hills and we decided to call the hike at Killhope Burn Bridge. After only doing 3 miles of an 8 mile hike we headed back to the car.
Lucky for us, we were saved from a mile walk in whiteout blizzard conditions by a farmer in his tractor. It was very kind of him.
So we will pick up the hike once more from Killhope Burn Bridge.
Our route:
Please consider supporting me by buying me a coffee:
-----
Music
Made Of Stone - Piano part by Andreas Madsen
Licensed under a Creative Commons License Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Andreas Madsen (København, Denmark) on Soundcloud:
-----
Thank you for watching
Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe
To be continued...
-----
Related Videos:
Killhope Law:
Killhope Lead Mine: and
Carrier's Way:
A drive through Weardale Part 4 St Johns Chapel to the Cumbrian Border
A drive through Weardale from St Johns Chapel through Ireshopeburn, Wearhead, Cowshill Lanehead and Killhope finishing at the Cumbrian border at Killhope Cross.
Burnhope Reservoir, Weardale
A view of Burnhope Reservoir.
Slitt Woods Weardale
Slitt Woods, Weardale.
Stanhope, County Durham - 22nd February, 2012
Stanhope (pronounced in the regional dialect Stanup or Stan'ope) is a small market town in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the River Wear between Eastgate and Frosterley on the north east side of Weardale. The A689 trans-Pennine road meets the B6278 road from Barnard Castle to Shotley Bridge here.
The civil parish of Stanhope has a population of 4,519 in 2001, and also includes Rookhope, Westgate, St John's Chapel, Ireshopeburn, Wearhead, Cowshill, Cornriggs, Eastgate, Frosterley all on the A689 road, along with Crawleyside, Hill End and White Kirkley. The parish was formerly much larger, with an area of 221 km². It shares some land in common with the neighbouring Wolsingham civil parish.
Stanhope is surrounded by moorland in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - the second largest of the current 40 AONBs in England and Wales.
Stanhope is also the current terminus of the Weardale Railway. However Trains do no longer run regularly to Frosterley and Wolsingham because of lack of income. Features of interest include a petrified tree stump in the churchyard, the Durham Dales Centre which incorporates a tea room, tourist information and craft shops, a ford with stepping stones for pedestrians, the eighteenth century Stanhope Castle in the centre of the town stands on the possible site of a medieval castle.
This video features views around the Town Centre including the Durham Dales Centre, Castle, petrified tree stump, church building and cemetery, the river Wear and the railway lines of the Weardale Railway.
Westgate and West Rigg Cut, Weardale.
Westgate and West Rigg Cut, Weardale.
Westgate ski slope, Weardale.
Westgate Ski Slope, Weardale.
West Rigg Cut Weardale
West Rigg Cut, Weardale.
Musette BC - Climb out of St John's Chapel Towards Rookhope
Musette BC - First 5 mins of the Climb out of St John's Chapel where it reaches a 32% gradient. One of the Climbs in the Etape Pennines 2013
Pack Horse Inn - Stanhope Weardale Durham MotorBike Rider Magazine Biker Friendly Inn Durham Dales
Pack House Stanhope Weardale County Durham MotorBike Biker Friendly Inn Durham Dales
tanhope is well known as the centre of Weardale, with its picturesque walks and historic buildings. Stanhope has something for everyone.
The Pack Horse Inn in the summer is a wash with bikers
A Family friendly pub with a ‘sun trap’ of a beer garden.
Sarah and Colin, took over in May 2012, we are keen to keep a biker - friendly stop off, offering traditional bar meals, with real ales available during season times.
A Warm and Friendly welcome always awaits you.
In winter months the cosy open fire and multi fuel stove in the bar areas make this a perfect setting for relaxing and enjoying a friendly drink..
Comfortable and competitively priced rooms.
A Hearty Full English breakfast.
Continental breakfast available for early departures.