Rookhope - Redburn Common - Wolfcleugh - Linztgarth Common - Northgate Fell - Smailsburn Common - Rookhope

A fairly challenging walk on the open moors around Rookhope to the north of Weardale, in an area renowned for its lead-mining history. Most of the route is through Open Access Land and the terrain is either ascending or descending, sometimes on clear tracks and sometimes no obvious tracks. The territory is typical North Pennine moorland with heather, cotton grass and marshy areas. Compass skills are necessary on this walk.

The walk starts with a short, steep climb from Rookhope Village to emerge onto Redburn Common. Except for a short, stiff climb onto the moor, the remainder of the walk up the moor to the road is very gentle and fairly easy to follow. A short stretch of uphill road-walking follows before the route intersects a cattle grid. From here the walk levels off for a long, rough moorland hike across terrain without clear tracks, where compass skills are needed. The route intersects the remains of the chimney from the old Rookhope Lead Smelting Mill flue before descending off the moor to pass through the remains of Grover Rake Mine, another relic of the lead-mining era. A very pleasant flat walk follows that runs alongside the Rookhope Burn. The route then rises up Linztgarth Common to emerge onto a metalled road. An easy downhill road-walk follows before the route heads up onto Northgate Fell, from where the final easy descent of Smailsburn Common delivers the walker back into Rookhope.

England - North England - Durham - North Pennines

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Walk id: 8043

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

9.4 Miles

Height gain

442 Metres

Duration

4 Hours 31 Mins

Average rating

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