Frosterley - Bollihope - Five Pikes - Frosterley

Alan Anderson

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This superb walk from Frosterley Village starts with a short section of road-walking before the route rises, fairly steeply at times, through the pastures leading up to the lofty village of Hill End on the edge of the open access land of Bollihope Common.

From Hill End there follows a short section of moorland-walking to intersect the snug valley of the Bollihope Burn, where the route passes through the hamlet of the same name. The route then starts the long, gradual ascent to Bollihope Common, initially alongside the Howden Burn on what would originally be a lead miners' track, but now used almost exclusively by grouse-shooters. The track reaches its highest point near Pelaw Pike in the middle of a huge expanse of open moor.

Soon after, the walk leaves the wide track to climb gently and intersect the trig point and nearby stone cairn on Five Pikes Hill, from where there are great panoramic views of the surrounding fells and the lowlands to the east.

The route meanders across the relatively flat Pikeston Fell on a clear track to intersect and follow the edge of the moor to a point near the local landmark called the 'Elephant Trees'. The track leaves the open access land to start the long descent off the moor along a good surfaced track through a series of meadows to intersect the hamlet of White Kirkley. The final section of the walk leaves the surfaced track and takes to the meadows that pass by old limestone quarries, then alongside the River Wear to arrive back at Frosterley.

England - North England - Durham - Weardale

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Food Shop, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Pub, Public Transport, River, Wildlife

10/24/2021 - Walkingworld Admin

Kenneth's footbridge at waymark 25 has been replaced and is now open.

4/15/2018 - Honor Davison

We first did this walk in mid-August and we'd recommend it. The heather was magnificent! Note ,as others have commented, that the footbridge at point 25 is damaged and closed.

4/14/2017 - Bill Simon

Completed this delightful walk with friends on 12/04/2017. The route description was faultless and the varied paths, tracks and field walking were easy to find and follow, including the short diversion to the trig point and currick at Five Pikes. This walk highlights much of what wonderful Weardale has to offer and is to be thoroughly recommended. To avoid the damaged footbridge from waypoint 24 we continued along the riverbank footpath to emerge at Bridge End and back to Frosterley.

4/10/2016 - ruth day

We did this walk on 10/04/2016, very enjoyable aided by the weather a dry sunny day and good directions, however NOTE OF WARNING WAYMARK 25. Kenneth's bridge is closed as a result of storm damage the Frosteley end has come loose from its moorings. Your options are turn left and follow path alongside river till you reach the Frosterly to White Kirkley road,turn Right, go over the river bridge and back into Frosterley. Or, just stay on the road from White Kirkley and follow it back to Frosterley. We don't know what the ford crossing east of Kenneth's bridge is like.