Harter Fell and Grassholme from Middleton-in-Teesdale

This North Pennine walk inlcudes Harter Fell and Grassholme Reservoir and a section of the Pennine Way. The start is Middleton-in-Teesdale and the walk includes a variety of scenery. Descending into the Lune Valley the walk continues alongside Grassholme Reservoir before using a section of old railway track back to the start.

Technical sheet

n°292927

A Middleton in Teesdale walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 19/04/22

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.41 km
Calculated time: 4h 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 239 m
Vertical drop: - 239 m
Highest point: 431 m
Lowest point: 219 m

District: Middleton in Teesdale
Start/End: N 54.623988° / W 2.08275°
Today’s forecast: Loading…
- Loading…

Open in the mobile app GPX track PDF print

Description

(S/E) There are car parks and limited street parking in Middleton-in-Teesdale (Grid ref. NY947254) where a wide range of facilities, including pubs, shops and cafes are available. When parking, please be considerate to others. After parking leave the village by Bridge Street (signposted to Brough) heading south to drop down to cross the River Tees. Climbing up from the river you soon reach a road junction where the B6277 bends left. Almost opposite is a bridleway, which is also the Pennine Way. The bridleway goes to the left of the Kirkcarrion, a hilltop conifer plantation, but we need to bear right and follow the rather feint Pennine Way as it climbs steadily onto the flanks of Harter Fell.

(1) Pass through the wall on the ridge and aim for a ruined barn which you keep on your right. Ahead lies another barn and you should keep to the right. Continue across a number of small fields to reach Wythes Hill Farm (Grid ref. NY921228). From here take the farm access road down to the B6276. Cross over and continue to follow the Pennine Way across field to Grassholme. Turn left and follow the lane across Grassholme Bridge. Reaching the other side of the reservoir, turn left through a gate (Grid ref. NY930215). Follow the path along the shore of the reservoir. After about 30 minutes walking, you reach the reservoir dam. Follow the access road uphill from the dam and turn left onto a minor road (Grid ref NY948224).

{{__If the path on the south side of the reservoir is still signed as being closed (since April 2020), a detour along the lane can be an easy alternative.
__}}

(2) Stay on this road as far as the first junction (Grid ref. NY953227). Take the footpath on the left and follow this across fields to reach Eller Beck. Go over the beck and continue uphill to Westfield House. Follow their access road to a lane (Grid ref. NY957238) and turn right. Reaching a railway viaduct, climb up and cross the River Lune following the old trackbed for some way towards Middleton. A sign for Middleton directs you to the right at a farm. Continue across the road and follow the path, which follows the River Tees upstream as far as County Bridge where you turn right into Middleton(S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 232 m - Middleton-in-Teesdale
1 : km 2.6 - alt. 431 m - Keep on thr right of the ruined barn
2 : km 8.12 - alt. 298 m - Turn left on the road
S/E : km 12.41 - alt. 232 m - Middleton-in-Teesdale

Useful Information

Starting from the bustling centre of Middleton-in-Teesdale this route includes a variety of scenery.

The first section takes you along a section of the Pennine Way crossing the flank of Harter Fell from where wide ranging views can be enjoyed. Descending into the Lune Valley the walk continues alongside Grassholme Reservoir before using a section of old railway back to the start.

If the path on the south side of the reservoir is still signed as being closed (since April 2020), a detour along the lane can be an easy alternative.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Download PDF / Print

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Clarity of route description
4.7 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5

Walk interest
4.7 / 5

Delphinium

19 Apr 2022 at 07:17 EDT

Hi there!

Thank you for this information. I edited the description following your instructions. I hope the construction will be done soon.

Enjoy your walks.

Tallboy

18 Apr 2022 at 11:01 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 16/04/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The path on the south side of the reservoir is still signed as being closed ( since April 2020), but detour along the lane was an easy alternative. Lovely walk with a bit of spring sunshine

Biffa

21 Sep 2020 at 05:03 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 20/09/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very enjoyable walk spoiled a little by the footpath along Grassholme reservoir being closed - since April. We wanted to go a little further so we combined this and the "Romaldkirk Moore and Mickleton" walk, starting and finishing at Romaldkirk.It made the walk @ 14mile.

ChesneyRocks

03 Aug 2020 at 11:41 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 02/08/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great walk on a lovely cool sunny day. Unfortunately they have closed the path along the reservoir in April and it does not say when it will be open again. They are woking on the dam. Worth checking with the visitor centre before hand. The alternative is to walk along the quiet road and pick up the path again as it comes up from the visitors centre.

redulike

16 Sep 2019 at 11:57 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 05/09/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Used this walk as the basis for a longer walk, taking in the pub in the village of Holwick further up the river Tees.

We too started in Mickleton (where we were staying), walking along the railway track until we picked up the Route which we started in reverse, walking westwards along the south side of the reservoir. Yes that cafe near the reservoir car park would have been ideal if we had been walking the 'correct' way round. But I had other plans and diverted from the Route at around the 410m contour line, along a track going NW skirting Brown Dod, continuing on to Holwick.

Walked back SE to Middleton-in-Teesdale along the south side of the river Tees. Then picked up that railway track back to Mickleton.

Kevinmcstea

27 Aug 2018 at 15:05 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 27/08/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great little cafe at the top of Bridge Street to start and finish the walk with a coffee. Quite a steep initial climb to Harter Fell rewards with some fantastic views. On the downward walk to Grassholme Reservoir could be quite muddy in wet weather. Not much to see on the reservoir. Enjoyed the walk, took slightly less than the 4 hours ( 3.5 hrs) with a short break midway. No stopping places for coffee or toilets until back in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Sarita J

02 Jul 2018 at 14:50 EDT

Glad to hear you enjoyed the walk. Please feel welcome to share any photos of the walk if you have any

Charlie007

02 Jul 2018 at 04:08 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 30/06/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Our day was made when the weather was more than kind and the slight breeze at the top of the fell gave respite for a very bright day.Following the walk uphill from Middleton the views over the valley where beautiful. On descending down to Grassholme Reservoir we were also given a treat for our eyes. The small picnic area at the bridge over the reservoir was ideal for our lunch break and with an ice cream in hand from the sailing club shop ite made the walk back to Middleton enjoyable.

neil2080

11 Jun 2018 at 06:05 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 08/06/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Excellent walk that had very varied terrain to keep out 6 year old entertained throughout, lovely views of Middleton in Teesdale and the reservoirs. Perfect spot for a picnic halfway round and a visitor centre on the reservoir to refill bottles and grab an ice cream and use the toilets. The sunny weather helped but would recommend this walk, would look forward to doing it again.

ASocialNomad

06 Jun 2018 at 10:52 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 05/06/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great Walk - we did this the opposite way round, starting in Mickleton, heading along the Teesdale Rail Track until we got to the road to Grassholme Resevoir. Its a gradual climb going this way round. Returned via the Rail Track. Good walk, good descriptions

notrapeddie

29 May 2018 at 17:58 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 25/05/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Downloaded the walk into my etrex GPS and the walk became an absolute joy...the route led me to evert style / gate waypoint. Amazing.

Other walks in the area

Cronkley Scar via High Force

Departure from Middleton in Teesdale (County Durham)

A lovely circular walk around Cronkley Scar via High Force.

Lunedale and Baldersdale

Departure from Middleton in Teesdale (County Durham)

Circular walk passing by Lunedale and Baldersdale.

Crossthwaite Common

Departure from Middleton in Teesdale (County Durham)

A walk combining the rugged moorland of Harter Fell and Crossthwaite Common with the beauty of Holwick Scars and the pastures alongside the River Tees.

Hudeshope Beck & Aukside

Departure from Middleton in Teesdale (County Durham)

Nice and circular walk passing by Hudeshope Beck & Aukside.

Hudeshope Beck

Departure from Middleton in Teesdale (County Durham)

A walk with lovely views in this beautiful peaceful dale following Hudeshope Beck up past the old lime kilns, over the miners bridge, through the wood and fields to Coldberry mine, then back down the beck on the other side.

Coldberry and High Force

Departure from Middleton in Teesdale (County Durham)

Nice circular walk around Coldberry and High Force.

The Crown : Teesdale Railway Path and Romaldkirk Moor

Departure from Mickleton (County Durham)

Easy circular walk through Teesdale Railway Path and Romaldkirk Moor.

Romaldkirk Moor from Mickleton

Departure from Mickleton (County Durham)

A walk in the North Pennines using a section of disused railway, moorland paths and tracks. The route traverses scenery typical of the area with some views across Teesdale also to be enjoyed.

For more walks, use our search engine.

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

Loading…

Author

Walking Britain
368 walks

Walker

Website: http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk

Walk map

Bigger map and chart