Rainbow Challenge Walk:
Hudeshope Beck
2.4 miles

Starting in the middle of Middleton in Teesdale, go along Market Place towards Alston and take the Stanhope turning (1) past the church on the right. Continue up the road past a gate on the left turning left into Beck Road (2).

Follow the road through the woods watching out for Hudershope Beck on your left (3). You will see the beck on and off all the way (4).

Soon you get to an open space, ideal for picnics (5), playing games and maybe paddling. Next you come to a waterfall called Horseshoe Fall (6) – why is that?
On the other side you will soon see a smaller beck running into Hudershope Beck (7). What is in front of this beck?

A bit further on, on the left , you will find a grassy area (8) where you can get down to the beck and look for fossils – can you find any?

Going back to the road, you now pass a bench for tired parents on the left. Then its further on to a fork in the road, firstly look up to your right to see the lime kilns (9). If you go up there you can read all about how they were used.

Then back down to the miners bridge (10). This was used by the miners on their way to work in the lead mines nearby. Over the side you can see another waterfall (11). See how deep it is.

Now you are turning back, and the forest is on our left now (12). There are lots of different trees here and lots of places for wildlife to live (13): you could see rabbits, chaffinches, wood pigeons, yellow wagtails, maybe even a pheasant or a woodpecker. On occasion roe deer are to be seen in these woods. – can you see any animals or birds?

As you walk back the beck is flowing the same way you are walking. After the open area you will see a metal bridge to the right (14), turn right over the Raby Bridge and follow the woodland path. After a few yards there is a fork (15) turn left on the smaller path to drop down to the wooden bridge (known locally as fairy bridge).

(Alternatively if you prefer to stay on the paved path continue up the road and turn right at the end to walk back down into Middleton the way you came).

Once again there are falls - fairy falls (16) and you cross fairy bridge (17) following the lower path to an old ruined garden (18). Here you can walk in the garden, but please take care, or keep to the path. Following the path up the hill (19) you come to the gate (20) you passed at the start of the walk.

Turn right and drop back down the road into Middleton, noticing Kirk Carrion (21) , topped with a group of trees, across the dale.

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