Leg 8Wolsingham to Stanhope

Start of Roof of England Walk Leg 8 – Wolsingham to Stanhope.

The Methodist chapel on the right of the route dates to 1862. It is actually the third Wesleyan chapel to be established in the town. The first (est. 1776) in Meeting House Lane was in use until 1836. The second (larger, with Gothic windows) on the main street was in use from 1836. Methodism was a strong movement in the North Pennines, taking root in the lead mining communities.

The trail crosses the route of the Weardale Railway with Wolsingham Station is to your left. The line originally ran from Bishop Auckland to Wearhead, a distance of 25 miles. It was started as an offshoot of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1847 to transport material to the ironworks of Teesside and, by 1895, it had been extended along the dale as far as Wearhead.

Take a look to your right, there is a good view of Wolsingham.

Large parts of the North Pennines are managed as grouse moors. As you walk across the moor, you will notice patches of heather which have been burnt. This is carried out by gamekeepers between 1 October and 15 April. The intention is to encourage the growth of fresh heather shoots for grouse (and sheep) to eat.

You might see adders along tracks like this. They are the only venomous snake in the country. Adults are usually 60–80cm long, with a zigzag pattern along the centre of the back. If you do see one, remember ‘SSS’ – Stop, Step back, Smile. They are shy and will usually move away. Keep dogs on leads and never try to touch or pick one up. You can submit any sightings to iRecord.

The route turns right downhill just before you reach the small clump of trees, known locally as the Elephant Trees. You will have seen this prominent feature on the skyline yesterday on leg 7 as you approached Baal Hill House in the Tunstall Valley.

As you walk downhill, notice the village nestled in the bottom of the dale. This is Frosterley, a small village of stone-built terraces, former quarrymen's cottages. The Great Limestone outcrops at river level here and so it was a focus for quarrying in the 19th century. Originally it was the terminus of the Weardale Railway, which opened from Witton Junction on 8 August 1847.

The route turns left here and follows the track along the top of Harehope Quarry. If you want to visit Frosterley carry straight on, downhill, past the entrance to the disused quarry, cross over the railway and the River Wear and turn left on the A689. It is about a km away. To rejoin the route either retrace your steps or follow the minor road to White Kirkley.

Harehope Quarry is a Local Wildlife Site with areas of wet woodland, species-rich limestone grassland and ponds and rivers. A former limestone quarry which began on a small-scale in the 12th century with larger-scale quarrying between 1901-31 and 1954-87. It is now run and managed by Aquatic Environments, with the help and support of the Harehope Quarry Project, a workers’ co-operative.

This is an optional out and back to see an exposure of Frosterley Marble in the stream bed. Continue downhill for 100m (on a permissive path) through a gate and down some stone steps to a wooden footbridge. Frosterley Marble is a fossil-rich limestone that is found near the top of the Great Limestone and is exposed and polished by the riverbed at the western end of the quarry.

To the right of the panel is the remains of the old mineshop. Just as you cross the stream look left and glimpse the old horse level mine entrance. The mine dates back to 1769 when the London Lead Company first leased this land. The mineshop is where miners lodged during the week, while their family stayed at home and worked the land.

The limekilns were built around 1847 and were originally owned by the Wear Valley Railway Company. Limestone came by rail from the quarries nearby. They eventually fell into disuse with production later reinstated in a couple of kilns. In the last period of working, ending around 1975, limestone came from Broadwood Quarry, and lime was sent in lorries as far afield as Dumfries.

This path and the cutting you are walking through is the old route of the railway which was used to transport limestone to the Bishopley Limekilns less than a kilometre away. In the kilns the limestone was processed to produce quicklime, for use in agriculture and for mortar in the building industry.

The rock face stretching out in front of you is the disused Parson Byers Quarry. It is one of many in Weardale which worked the 20m-thick Great Limestone. The rock won has been used as a flux in iron and steel making, and for making lime, cement, aggregate and roadstone. The industry flourished with the coming of the railway in the mid 1800s and continued for 100 years.

At the entrance to Heather View Caravan Park, the Roof of England Walk continues following the Weardale Way but if you intend visiting Stanhope you can continue following the minor road, downhill and to the right. Cross over the Weardale Railway and the Wear and when you reach the A689 turn left.

As you approach the end of leg 8, the settlement on the other side of the River Wear is Stanhope, the ‘capital of the upper dale’. St. Thomas’ Church dates to the 13th century. The fossil tree in the church yard is worth seeing. Stanhope Old Hall was founded in the 13th century and was one of the largest fortified houses in Weardale. Stanhope Castle in the market place was built in 1798.

Finish of Roof of England Walk Leg 8 – Wolsingham to Stanhope.