Tees Valley Railway Path

About the Railway Path

The Tees Valley Railway Path is a 10km long path set in the attractive countryside of Teesdale. The path starts near the village of Lonton, passing through or near Mickleton, Romaldkirk, Cotherstone and ends near Lartington.

The Railway was the remnant of a scheme for a line from Barnard Castle to Alston. It was opened in 1868 by an independent company and was taken over by the North Eastern Railway in 1882. There are great views along the entire length of the walk, revealing a wooded pastoral landscape. This is characterised by a patchwork of small fields bounded by dry stone walls and hedges dotted with trees.

If you want to walk from Middleton, take the Brough road and, immediately to the south side of the bridge over the River Tees, follow the footpath sign along the riverbank and then through fields to Lonton.

Approximately 800 metres (½ mile) after joining the railway a viaduct crosses the deep gorge of the River Lune. Built in 1868 for the Tees Valley Railway Company its five arches straddle the parishes of Lunedale and Mickleton. You can walk on public footpaths to Mickleton Station, close to Mickleton Village, which has parking facilities and refreshment opportunities.

Along the verges of the old railway track, wild flowers have colonised in profusion, especially primroses and cowslips at spring time. During early summer the air is heavy with the scent of May blossom. Small ponds support marshland plants such as water forget-me-not, brooklime and lady’s smock - the food plant of the orange tip butterfly.

Cowslip

Many birds and animals can be seen along or nearby to the path, such as lapwing, skylark, weasel and stoat. Ponds containing frogs and toads occur in the wet ditches along side the track and at Hayberries pond between Romaldkirk and Mickleton.

About 3 km (2 miles) down the valley, the Church tower of Romaldkirk appears through the trees. Here the trackbed is fenced off and a diversion up steps to the right links the route to the road. There was once a level crossing here. Turn left into the village, past the signal which still stands next to the old station, now a private house.

Romaldkirk is known as one of the prettiest villages in Teesdale with its spacious greens edged with stone-built houses and attractive gardens. There are stocks still standing on the green opposite the 'Rose and Crown'.

To rejoin the railway turn right at the crossroads and continue along the B6277 towards Cotherstone. At a junction take the right fork signed 'Hunderthwaite, Hury'. At the top of the rise rejoin the railway path.

Amongst the many flowers that can be seen along this attractive section of the line are primrose, cowslip, dog violet, lesser celandine, betony and St John’s Wort. Meadows and other grasslands need to be grazed or cut in order to retain their biodiversity. Here the lush, green countryside has been responsible for helping to produce the famous Cotherstone cheese from its herb-rich pastures.

Hard Ings cutting is sheltered with well drained slopes that support a number of different types of orchid and a wide variety of butterflies and insects. On a sunny day, it is a good spot to find small tortoiseshell, ringlet and small blue butterflies.

Just before reaching Cotherstone, you will cross over the tall nine-arched Balder Viaduct which spans a deep river valley. It was built in 1848 for the Tees Valley Railway Company.

Situated near the junction of the Rivers Balder and Tees, the village clusters around two greens. When the Tees Valley Railway opened, Cotherstone became a popular holiday resort. Apartment houses, tea rooms and shops flourished. Today, the only shop remaining is the village Post Office. There are several footpaths leading to Cotherstone from the railway path.

There are several waymarked footpaths which you can follow if you wish to continue your walk to Barnard Castle.

Tees Valley Railway Path - Map

Location

Start: west of the hamlet of Lonton, 1.6 km (1 mile) south of Middleton-in-Teesdale, on the B6277, Middleton/Cotherstone road.

Facilities

Walkers, horses and cyclists are welcome. The Tees Valley Railway Path is not surfaced and is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Enquiries

Countryside Group
Durham County Council
Environment
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 3833594