St John's Chapel - East Blackdene - West Blackdene - Wearhead

This is a fairly challenging little walk on both sides of the valley between the Upper Weardale villages of St John's Chapel and Wearhead. Except for a little level walking at the start and middle section of the route, the majority of the walk is either ascending or descending. The terrain is mainly fields and lanes, surfaced and unsurfaced, with outstanding views of the surrounding Weardale Valley countryside.

From St John's Chapel the walk starts with a little flat meadow-walking before the route begins the steep climb up through the hamlet of East Blackdene and further on through fields to the highest point of the walk at Allercleugh Farm. The walk then descends steeply through fields to the valley bottom alongside the River Wear at West Blackdene. From here the terrain levels out as the route pretty much follows the snaking river through fields and along wooded paths to arrive at Wearhead, from where the route starts the return leg. A little flat walking on a surfaced lane follows before the walk once again rises through fields and along a walled lane to intersect the road known as The Causeway. The route then descends to cross a stream over a footbridge before rising quite steeply at times to intersect another surfaced lane. There next follows a stretch of road-walking before the route starts the final gentle descent through fields to return to St John's Chapel. The scenery on this walk is outstanding.

England - North England - Durham - Weardale

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Walk id: 7156

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

5.9 Miles

Height gain

303 Metres

Duration

2 Hours 53 Mins

Average rating

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