Parking
the car in sunshine in Winston village I was in good time to catch the 11.34
number 75 bus, alighting ten minutes later in Barnard Castle. A fine drizzle is
evident and by the time I’ve strolled along Market Place, down The Bank and
left into Grey Lane, leading into some parkland with benches and play equipment,
I have to stop to slip on a waterproof jacket.
From
here the path along the river bank is evident and passes through a few fields
before rising up a bank to emerge onto a minor road just before Abbey Bridge.
Here the planned route, based on the OS map, goes over the river by the road
bridge before continuing along the south bank; however the waymark posts take
me immediately across the road, over a wall stile and into another field path
that quickly dives into trees. By the time it becomes clear that this isn’t a
traffic free route to the actual bridge I am the best part of a mile on (still
following waymarks) and presumably following an alternative, north bank path.
At least the rain has become so light that the drops literally dry on the waterproof
as fast as they land.
This
route is along the narrow strip between river and farmland, so densely wooded
that the river, close as it is, can be heard but not often seen. Towards the
end of this ‘Tees Bank’ plantation the path exits and goes north east through a
couple of fields, via wobbly stepping stones across a stream feeding a drinking
trough; at this point the lightest of showers produces the faintest of
rainbows.
Soon
the wooded riverbank is regained, just opposite the romantically named ‘Joining
of the Waters’ where the River Greta joins from the south. Mainly the path
squeezes between the steep wooded bank on the right and farmland on the left;
the flat route broken only by steep steps down to cross a water-falling stream coming
from East Shaws, then back up more steps to return to the familiar terrain.
Eventually
the path emerges in Whorlton, where I take advantage of the shelter of trees
and the support of a wall to stop for a quick packed lunch, treated also to a
double rainbow over to the north. This turns out to be the last hurrah for the
showers and a bright afternoon begins to develop.
Refreshed
I head down the hill, via steps, to the splendid Whorlton Suspension Bridge;
just a single track of wooden planks and an information board giving the
history and the tariffs. No need to cross the bridge however as the path
continues on the north bank from 50 yards up the road just as it switchbacks up
to the village.
The
path is for once right on the river bank, a bit worryingly for a while as the
Tees is running quite high, but soon the way turns in and up, heading the wrong
way for a short climb before emerging from a the wooded bank onto the familiar
easterly trek along the farmland edge. A brief interlude of field paths cuts
across one river loop at Dubock Pool, before diving back into woodland, then
out again to gain height on a farm track opposite Ovington.
Here
a slight overshoot creates concern but retracing a few yards reveals a waymark
to the right into Holme Wood. After a detour around some new lodges the river
bank is regained, once more with trees to the right and fields on the left. By
now the sun is low down casting long shadows in front of me, but just as it
drops below the Pennines in the west I emerge at Winston Bridge and five
minutes later am back in the village chucking my dirty boots into the back of
the car.
The
seven and a half miles have taken about 3 hours and 40 minutes, with stops for
lunch, map reading and admiring bridges. The terrain was undemanding; the route
well marked in the main and the landscape pleasant if a bit repetitive.
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