Middleton in Teesdale

[Deleted member 26715]

Got a cottage for the 2nd week in February, I know it will be cold, but there are several reservoirs in the area, does anyone know if there are MTB trails around them? Or anywhere close for off-road riding

 

[Gareth C]

https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2017/05/07/high-cup/ (if it's cold and crisp, the longer loop via Dufton (and even longer, Garrigill) is good: https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/disaster-strikes/).

Swaledale is close too, or Hamsterley forest (access via Eggleston-Stanhope road - parking by the roadside at the old mine road into the back of the forest).

 

[Slioch]

If you like spooky places, take a wander late afternoon up to Kirkcarrion which is a mile to the SW of Middleton, and wait till it gets dark.
Gives me the serious heebiejeebies that place!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Found that there is an old railway line Tees Railway Path which passes the village that we are staying in, goes from Barnard Castle to Alston, so I think I will give that a go. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4422/Railway-Path-Tees/pdf/RailwayPathTees.pdf

 

[ColinJ]

Found that there is an old railway line Tees Railway Path which passes the village that we are staying in, goes from Barnard Castle to Alston, so I think I will give that a go. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4422/Railway-Path-Tees/pdf/RailwayPathTees.pdf

It looks good, but I think it only goes SE from Middleton to Barnard Castle, but not NW to Alston?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

It looks good, but I think it only goes SE from Middleton to Barnard Castle, but not NW to Alston?

I was only taking that from the PDF I know the area at all, but looking on the map, the mention of Barnard Castle to Alston I now understand was where the original railway went from/to.

 

[ColinJ]

On my OS map I can see the disused railway line from Barnard Castle as far as Middleton but there is no sign of it onwards to Alston. They would have had to dig a 30 km long tunnel through a massive hill to continue it NW.

Anyway, it looks a great area for cycling (and walking). I've never been there but it is on my list of places to visit one day.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Yeah the track up to Gregs hut on Cross Fell is worth an outing if your bike is suitable. A walk along the Tees to the pub at Langdon Beck then bus back is worth an outing.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Yeah the track up to Gregs hut on Cross Fell is worth an outing if your bike is suitable. A walk along the Tees to the pub at Langdon Beck then bus back is worth an outing.

The bike might be suitable but I suspect that the engine won't cope

 

[galaxy]

Beautiful area. You will have a great time

 

[rogerzilla]

I know it's on-road, but it's worth hauling yourself over the Langdon Beck to St John's Chapel road just to say you've cycled the (joint) highest road pass in England, the one with a special cyclists' warning sign about adverse weather conditions at the bottom! I did it on a Cannondale MTB and I'm ashamed to say that I used 24 x 30 most of the way up, with a very cold headwind. I also did it on a Brompton and had to stop for a rest. A lot.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I'm ashamed to say that I used 24 x 30 most of the way up, with a very cold headwind.

I don't get ashamed, if I can't do it I can't do it, we may consider that one in the car