This Durham walk explores the area made famous by Hannah Hauxwell. The landscape is wild and never boring and this walk uses the Pennine Way for exploration.
Technical sheet
n°293007
A Hunderthwaite walk
posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 23/09/16
(S)The start is the car park at Balderhead Reservoir (grid ref. NY929186). Exit the car park and return to the road and walk east towards the High Birk Hatt, Hannah's Meadow gate (grid ref.NY933189). Turn right off the road and follow the Pennine Way south. The path takes you through Hannah's Meadow Nature Reserve and down to the shores of Blackton Reservoir.
(1)Cross Blackton Bridge and continue to the junction where the two Pennine Way routes diverge (grid ref. NY933181). Take the right fork and continue past Clove Lodge to reach a minor road, which is followed for a short way. Turn right off the minor road following the Pennine Way signage and continue across Cotherstone Moor to reach a stile at Race Yate (grid ref. NY942160).
(2)Once across the stile turn east along a marked path for approximately 1.5 miles across the Great Allotment. Like many paths in this area, the going can be rather wet underfoot if there has been plenty of rain! This section of the route offers a true taste of the area with little sign of life apart from wildlife and sheep.
Reaching the Pennine Way at Ladywood Rigg (grid ref.NY968163), turn left. The onward route is generally well trodden and easy to follow soon reaching the minor road passed on the outward section of the walk (grid ref. NY948178). Pick up the path a few metres west and head north to Friar House where the Pennine Way turns almost due west. The path leads you to the junction where the two Pennine Way routes meet and all you need to do is retrace your steps back to the start.(E)
Waypoints
S : km 0 - alt. 337 m - Balderhead Reservoir car park
1 : km 1.52 - alt. 290 m - Cross Blackton Bridge
2 : km 4.04 - alt. 418 m - Cross stile and turn east
3 : km 6.67 - alt. 357 m - Turn left along Pennine Way
E : km 12.79 - alt. 353 m - Balderhead Reservoir car park
Useful Information
This walk explores the surroundings made famous by the lone farmer Hannah Hawkswell who used traditional methods to earn her living. The route uses sections of the Pennine Way, which in this immediate area offers two routes. It is wise to choose a clear day to fully enjoy the North Pennines' remarkable skies and landscapes.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
Date of walk : 28/06/21 Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
A long walk with some striking views but little else. The initial stage through Hannah's meadow is very pretty. Once on the Pennine Way you are on a lengthy, steady incline that was at times quite difficult. Baldersdale and the great allotment gave valley views and a flat path. The final leg on the corner of Cotherstone Moor back on the Way was easier going eventually looking back at the reservoirs.
Although I didn't measure seemed longer than the published 12k and heavier than expected.
All in all a little disappointing.
Steady on
Overall rating :
4 / 5
Date of walk : 28/02/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
The walk was good but the biggest problem was the part of the Oenone way that went across farmland without waymarkers. As you go down the farm track to the farm house pay attention with the field layout and make sure you go left at the farmhouse . I missed this and ended up trudging round a lot of fields off the track which wasn’t good.
Sarita J
Thank you for your feedback and sorry to hear that you struggled with the walk description. We'll look into making this walk clearer for future hikers. If you have any suggestions on where the text needs improving, please let us know!
Pottsy18
Overall rating :
3 / 5
Date of walk : 09/05/18 Clarity of route description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
The descrywas not accurate, there was not enough detail and we we went wrong once and couldn’t find the path at all and had to turn back. We were not the only ones who went wrong and couldn’t find the path.
