Upper Teesdale (Day Trip)

Tour Code: GBR84

A beautiful day walk in the North Pennines, exploring the wonderful upland habitats of hay meadows, juniper woods, limestone grassland and the river Tees.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Join us for a beautiful day walk in the North Pennines, the backbone of England, around the headwaters of the River Tees. This area of the Moor House Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve (managed by Natural England) has wonderful upland habitats: hay meadows, rough grazing, juniper woods, blanket bogs, limestone grassland and the restless, tumbling River Tees itself. We will meet at the Langdon Beck Hotel in Forest-in-Teesdale, and our ‘out and back’ walk along the river will cover around 6 miles. If we have time during the afternoon we will relocate by car for a gentle walk alongside Cow Green Reservoir. Please click on ‘detailed information’ below to read about the seasonal highlights of this Day Trip in spring and summer.

  • Waders, including Snipe, Curlew and Golden Plover
  • Black Grouse, Peregrine and occasional Short-eared Owls
  • Botanical highlights may include Alpine Bistort, Mountain Pansy and Northern Marsh Orchids

Early Spring

In early spring the waders are starting to return to their breeding areas. Lapwing, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew and the handsome Golden Plover all breed here, Dippers are dashing up and down the narrow becks and the early arriving Common Sandpiper may be bobbing along the riverside rocks. This is Black Grouse lekking time and we may be lucky enough to see some feeding in the hay meadows or low bushes. It is still early for the special plants of the fells but the beautiful spring gentian can emerge in April and the amazing landscapes and geology – with the Whin Sill formed hundreds of millions of years ago from cooled molten rock, layers of sandstone, shale and the unique sugar limestone – are on view all year round in this UNESCO Global Geopark. The North Pennines are amazing whenever one views them!

Late Spring and Summer

During the late spring and summer months we expect to see numerous waders including Lapwing, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew, plus the handsome Golden Plover which breeds here. Wheatears are abundant and Ring Ouzels ‘chack-chack’ from the low juniper bushes, Black Grouse can be found feeding in the colourful hay meadows and Peregrine, Kestrel and the occasional Short-eared Owl are also to be seen. Botanical highlights may include rare arctic and alpine flowers such as Alpine Bistort and Mountain Pansy, Northern Marsh Orchids, and in the poorer soils of the peat bogs there are Sphagnum Mosses along with insect-eating sundews and butterworts.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Day Trip Location

Day Trip Location

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Why Naturetrek?

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