As you can probably work out the fells are the hilly bits, the rivers run through them and this combination is known as a dale, in this case the rivers are the Tees and the Wear. Some of you (especially all those Scouts from the late 1980s) might also have heard of Langdon Beck, the Youth Hostel, it is often used by Scouts and similar groups as a stop off when journeying the Pennine Way.
Between the two dales is a small road about 5 miles long, over the top of the fell separating them. On our journeys here we often take the Teesdale road and pass this turning and for some time I have wanted to take that road and see where it comes out.
Today was that day! Yay!
It might seem a little sad to some folk that anyone could be so hoppy-skippy-smiley excited about a drive out, but believe me, the sheer scale of these dales and the enormous beauty they hold is jaw-dropping to someone who has never been anywhere soooo BIG and sooooo open that you can watch the clouds pass over the rugged terrain for long, mesmerising minutes at a time. In fact, the skies are so moody and wild, you could sit all day and watch the skies and the fells change. It is stunning.
Anyway, the following photos are our little jaunt from Alston along the Teesdale road to a turning just before Langdon Beck marked St. John's Chapel, which is in Weardale. Then along the Weardale road past the Killhope Lead Mining Museum, over Killhope to Alston.
Incidentally, the road over Killhope holds the equal honour (with Hartside, the other side of Alston) as the highest paved (or tarmaced) pass in England....hence our blog name!
Enjoy!
On the Teesdale road, this is Yad Moss the local Ski Lift!
Looking down the dale
Over the top and down into Weardale
Killhope Cross looking towards the mining museum
Killhope Cross
Killhope Cross looking towards Garrigill
Killhope Cross is where Cumbria meets County Durham (note the gradient sign!)
Shadow of cloud on the hills
Just before Alston we found some woolly friends - you have to
be careful on the roads around these 'ere parts!
I'm hoping to upload a short video of the drive down that....erm....interesting gradient (if I can load it up!) It is an amazing drop!
Til then, take care....bye!
Nora
xxx
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