Cauldron Snout from Cow Green Reservoir

(S/E) The start is the small car park above Cow Green Reservoir (grid ref. NY810309) where you immediately get a feeling of the wild country forming this part of the North Pennines. From the car park walk back up the road and take the first path on the right (grid ref. NY812307) heading roughly south east. Reaching a cross track, turn left and continue to a tarmac track.

(1) Turn right and follow this access road to the dam to join the Pennine Way. Do not cross the bridge but bear left onto the Pennine Way heading south to Middleton-in-Teesdale.

(2) The waterfall is a short distance downstream below the bridge. If you wish to visit Falcon Flints, then continue along the Pennine Way as far you wish. The return route follows the outward path.

This is an easy walk ideal for filling in a few hours if you are in the North Pennines. The area around Cow Green Reservoir is typical of this part of England with wild moors and hills that see few visitors apart from sheep. Cow Green Reservoir was built amid some controversy between 1967 and 1971 so is one of the more recent additions to water storage in the UK. The key feature visited is Cauldron Snout waterfall on the River Tees, which after a long wet spell can be very spectacular. If you have time you can extend the walk to visit the impressive limestone crags that form Falcon Flints a little further downstream.