Parking
for free near the Tees Barrage at Stockton, it is a short walk to Thornaby
station where £1.50 gets me a senior single, one stop to Eaglescliffe; from
there following the A67 towards Stockton soon reveals a sign on the right to
the Teesdale Way.
This
leads between some back gardens and allotments before entering Quarry Wood and
then Preston Park. Within the park a multitude of paths offer themselves but by
keeping right and hugging the river I eventually emerge onto some tarmac and
spot a TWP way-marker pointing back the way I came, but confirming I am still
on the route.
The
way forward is sign posted Ingleby Barwick and heads across towards the new
“1825 Way”, but when it reaches it there is no indication of the way to go next.
Turning left doesn’t seem promising, but turning right only uncovers a signpost
pointing back that way too. My instinct is to the right and an underpass is
promisingly signed to Stockton town centre, and through the underpass another
sign incorporates a TWP way-marker (so that initial signpost looks tampered
with).
The
path follows the river along one of its a meanders, passing anglers before
cutting inland to the back of some new flats and then entering the Bowesfield
nature reserve. Choosing the middle of the three paths leads between a couple
of meres, bordered by bulrushes and populated by swans and water fowl; more
importantly it provides access to a convenient bench on which to sit and munch
my snack.
An
information board indicates the way to the riverbank and turning left accesses
a narrow, winding and enclosed path, vaguely threatening until yet more anglers
are spotted in the undergrowth. As Stockton is approached there are more things
in the undergrowth that indicate the proximity of urban youth – bottles, cans,
scorched earth – and after passing under the A66 and adjacent rail bridge the
riverside path ends abruptly at the yard of SG Welding.
Walking
up their access road reveals a sign confirming I am still on the route, sending
me right along a road and depositing me in Stockton opposite the bingo hall.
There is no further signpost, but crossing the road, turning left and then
following the road as it bends to the right, brings me onto the riverside walk
underneath the Millennium footbridge.
The
concrete towpath continues alongside the river, under the Princess Diana road
bridge and then under the Infinity footbridge, before reaching the Tees
Barrage. Once there, the splendid Riverview Café provides welcome refreshment,
including home-baked cakes, at very reasonable rates.
The
six miles or so has taken just two and a half hours, and having expected
industrial I was pleasantly surprised at the generally rural nature of most of
the route.
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