Time for Tees

Mark Sutcliffe takes a riverside ramble near the historic market town of Barnard Castle

Egglestone Abbey

On the north bank of the River Tees in Country Durham the market town of Barnard Castle is home to elegant stone facades and a knot of higgledy-piggledy streets.

It has a rich and storied history stretching back almost a thousand years. Construction of the eponymous castle began in 1093 and the original structure was significantly enlarged by Bernard de Balliol – the Norman nobleman who inherited it in the 12th century.

The town grew up around the castle walls and continued to expand as ownership of the fortress passed to the Bishop of Durham and then to the Earl of Warwick, before it became one of King Richard III’s favourite residences.

After it was heavily damaged during a siege in 1569, the castle fell into ruin and was further damaged when a subsequent owner plundered its stone to build a new castle at Raby.

Starting from Teesdale Barnard Castle Club Campsite, our walk passes right under the western battlements of the castle and follows the river downstream to another scenic ruin: the remains of Egglestone Abbey. Today, Barnard Castle is a bustling town with a central marketplace and fine selection of independent retailers, cafés and pubs. A visit to the Bowes Museum – home to the world-famous mechanical Silver Swan – is highly recommended.

Directions

1. From the back gate of the site, head right along Lartington Lane into town. There’s a narrow reinforced verge on the left-hand side of the road that leads onto a pavement. Keep a keen eye out for traffic.

2. 0.5km – At the bottom of the hill, head left on a footpath across a footbridge then diagonally right on an asphalt lane, climbing through the woods. At the top of the incline, continue slightly right past a crazy golf course onto a green in front of the castle. 

3. 1km – At the castle, descend right towards the river, then follow a footpath left beneath the tower to a bridge. Do not cross the bridge but follow the road alongside the river and after 150m, at the apex of a sharp left-hand bend, continue straight (along Gray Lane) on to join the Teesdale Way heading towards Abbey Bridge along the north bank of the river. 

4. 1.5km – Follow the Teesdale Way to join the river and continue for a mile to Abbey Bridge, keeping right where the path forks and continue through woods to a bridge.

5. 3.5km – Cross the bridge and head right on a quiet lane towards Egglestone Abbey. After 250m, head left up a driveway to the abbey and follow a footpath skirting left around the ruins then diagonally right and past the cottages and over a footbridge. 

6. 4.4km – Follow the path left then climb steeply right, ignoring a path to the left over a stile. At the top of the rise, continue diagonally right across a field to rejoin the lane. 

7. 4.7km – Head left along the lane then turn right into a driveway down to a static caravan park. Continue down the drive into the park, following the driveway through the park to reach a riverside path.

8. 5.6km – Continue upstream along the river, joining a road to reach County Bridge below the castle.

9. 6.6km – At the bridge, cross the road and continue straight ahead on the pavement, following the road past a row of modern terraces then descending over a bridge to take the public footpath on the left.

10. 7.1km – Continue through Deepdale Wood for 400m then take a sharp right up a steep incline to a road. Turn left and the Club campsite back gate is 50m away.

Download this route and others to your smartphone or GPS device from the Club’s OutdoorActive page at: out.ac/IPp3bt

About the route

• Start/finish: Teesdale Barnard Castle Club Campsite, Lartington Lane, Barnard Castle, Co Durham DL12 9BD.
• Distance: 5.2m/8.3km.
• Time: 2hrs 30mins.
• Level: Suitable for occasional walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.
• Terrain: Riverside paths, country lanes, woodland tracks and asphalt paths with 140m of ascent.
• Landscape: Waterside paths and woodland trails.
• Refreshments: Lots of choice in Barnard Castle.
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The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes.