Teesdale Way
A 92-mile long-distance path in the north of England following the course of the River Tees from source to sea. Starting near Dufton in the North Pennines, the walk heads east, passing many iconic locations on the river’s journey to the North Sea near Middlesbrough, including High Cup Nick, Cauldron Snout, High Force, Low Force, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, and Croft-on-Tees. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: NY 689 250
Distance: 92 miles (148 km)
Time: 38–46 hours
Duration: 5–9 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL19 Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley
OL26 North York Moors – Western Area
OL31 North Pennines – Teesdale and Weardale
304 Darlington and Richmond
306 Middlesbrough and Hartlepool
Summary
The Teesdale Way long-distance footpath largely follows the banks of the River Tees from near its source to the sea, passing from the remote high moorlands of Cumbria and Durham to the industrial landscapes of Teesside and the coast. From the start in the Cumbrian village of Dufton, the route follows the Pennine Way National Trail onto the Pennines, passes High Cup Nick, follows Maize Beck, and crosses moorland to Cauldron Snout, where the River Tees is met for the first time.
Note: If you truly wanted to follow the River Tees from absolute source to sea, following the Pennine Way in the other direction from Dufton would lead you to Tees Head on Cross Fell, from where you could follow the fledgling River Tees downstream to Cow Green Reservoir, then on to Cauldron Snout to resume on the Teesdale Way.
From Cauldron Snout, the Teesdale Way leads to High Force—undoubtedly England’s finest and most impressive waterfall—and then to the spectacularly beautiful series of waterfalls at Low Force before reaching Middleton-in-Teesdale, where the Teesdale Way parts company with the Pennine Way. The Teesdale Way continues through Barnard Castle and leaves the Pennines, heading east via Whorlton, Winston, Gainford, and Piersbridge to Darlington. Afterwards, the river continues through Croft-on-Tees, Hurworth-on-Tees, Middleton St George, Yarm, Eaglescliffe, and Thornaby-on-Tees to reach Middlesbrough before flowing into the North Sea, while the Teesdale Way ends just south of the river’s end at Warrenby near Redcar.