Bowlees to Selset Reservoir - Durham Round Trail

Start : Bowlees Visitor Centre (DL12 0XE) Grid ref. NY 906 282

(S) From the Bowlees Visitor Centre and car park, take the road heading South-West back to the B6277. Cross the road, go through the gate and follow the path back down towards the River Tees. Cross the Wynch Bridge and continue straight ahead (South) following the Low Force Geotrail. Go through the kissing gate. Ignore the path to your right and continue ahead.

(1) Cross Stony Beck and continue heading South. Cross 2 stiles.

(2) When you reach the track junction, continue straight ahead (South) crossing a stream called Smithy.

(3) After 360m, turn right (West) at the junction at Cross House. Pass Green House on your left and a track on your right, then look for a path to your left. Take this path (South-West) and cross Holwick Beck. After crossing the beck, the path will turn right (West) and then swing around to the left (South) as it climbs upwards.

(4) As you climb you should see the remnants of a prehistoric burial cairn on your right and then a walled structure. Turn South-East to cross Blackmea Crag Sike. The path will turn South again, go through the gate and continue heading South.

(5) Cross Eel Beck and then continue South crossing Rowton Beck. Go through the gate and bear South-West. The wall should be on your right. Cross Easter Beck. After 350m, look for a path to your left which continues uphill (South-East), on the other side of the wall should be the start of Easter Beck.

(6) After 1 Km you will have reached the highest point on the walk. Take a moment to enjoy the view. Continue heading South and then South-East again heading for the gate in the wall.

(7) Go through the gates and follow the track for 70m then take the right-hand track going South at the small building. Cross Merry Gill and then follow the track around to the left (South-East). There should be a wall on your left as well as Merry Gill. The track will bend left (East) and cross Merry Gill again. You should now have Merry Gill on your left and a wall on your right. Continue East until you reach the farm.

(8) At the farm, turn right (South) and continue to the next building where the road will bear right then left. Eller Beck will be on your right Follow this road to the B6276. Across the road you will see a gate to Hannah's Meadow (E).

Start : Bowlees Visitor Centre (DL12 0XE) Grid ref. NY 906 282

Transport: There is parking at Bowlees Visitor Centre and at High Force. There is no public transport in the area so you will need to rely on taxis to return to the start point on this stage of the walk. Approximately 400m to the east of the endpoint is Carlbeck Centre (village hall), a good place to direct a taxi too. The next stage of the walk is also short so can be added to this section.

Facilities: There are toilets at Bowlees Visitor Centre and at the High Force Hotel which also has a restaurant. There is nothing more along the route.

Accessibility Terrain: This section of the walk is high in the Pennines and has sections with no distinct path so good navigation skills will be needed to navigate this section.

Accommodation: The Rose and Crown in the pretty village of Romaldkirk offers accommodation and is a good place to use as a base. The High Force Hotel also has rooms.

• Enjoy the Pennines at its wildest.