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Wild flowers and moors

Route facts

Waterways:
Balderhead Reservoir »
Blackton Reservoir »
Hury Reservoir »

Distance: 5.47 miles / 8.8 km

Duration: 3 hours 15 mins.

Difficulty: Moderate

Circular route from: Car park at Balderhead dam

A walk through the wild landscape of Baldersdale, with views of moors, rivers and reservoirs.

Walk route kindly provided by and © AA Media Limited 2010. For more walking products, please visit http://shop.theaa.com/store/north-east.

Getting there

Parking: Car park at start.

 

Waypoints

1. Balderhead dam car park

Walk across Balderhead dam causeway to the south side of the reservior. Double back left on the stony track, descending past former youth hostel at Blackton Grange. Beyond this, a grass track leads down to Blackton Reservoir, where it meets the Pennine Way.

Easting: 392913, Northing: 518715

2. Clove Lodge

Turn right along track and climb past Clove Lodge. Beyond this, take the tarmac lane to the left. On your left, you will pass farmland pastures, and on your right, Cotherstone Moor.

Easting: 393555, Northing: 517780

3. East Friar House

Just beyond driveway of East Friar House, take the narrow path climbing half right towards the rocks of Goldsborough.

Easting: 394645, Northing: 518135

4. Goldsborough

By first of rocks, take left fork to climb to summit. Return to this position and then take narrow right-hand fork to return to road. Turn right along road and follow it down to Hury Reservoir.

Easting: 395505, Northing: 517700

5. Willoughby Hall

Just beyond Willoughby Hall, double back left along Northumbrian Water access track and then turn right off it along grassy causeway to the north of the reservoir.

Easting: 395560, Northing: 518855

6. Blackton dam

The path veers left and climbs above Blackton to a pair of gates. Pass through them, turn immediately right through another gate and head for a further gate in the northwest field corner.

Easting: 394780, Northing: 518700

7. Blind Beck

Path veers right and then left alongside hawthorn trees, then passes an old barn. Walls to the right and then the left guide the route to the footbridge accross Blind Beck.

Easting: 394032, Northing: 518695

8. Low Birk Hat

Footpath crosses two fields, running parallel to the shoreline. In the third field, follow drystone wall half left towards Low Birk Hat and pass in front of farmhouse to access road. Turn right on road.

Easting: 393577, Northing: 518347

9. Hannah's Meadow

Climb out of the valley on the access road, past Hannah's Meadow and High Birk Hat to higher road. Turn left, then take the next left down a tarmac lane to return to car park.

Easting: 393339, Northing: 518977