Weardale
Community news and events for Weardale
Weardale is one of the best kept tourist secrets in the country. The area boasts some of the most stunning views in the country, which range from beautiful vistas to breathtaking ruggedness.
About Weardale
The history and heritage of Weardale has been shaped not only by nature but also by the hand of man. Weardale was once at the centre of the world's lead mining industry and prior to that was the hunting ground of the all-powerful Prince Bishops of Durham.
In the past, iron ore, limestone and coal were all hewn from the earth but richest of all were Weardale's massive deposits of lead. In fact visitors to the region can step back into the immediate past with a visit to Killhope Lead mining Centre, with its magnifiscent gigantic wheel, itself a fitting tribute to the mining boom years of the 19th century.
As well as viewing the wheel, visitors can don hard hats and walk down Park Level Mine - now the most extensive show mine in the North-east. They can also follow the Lead Mining Trail around the many other sites associated with this all-important industry.
Or they can trace the rail routes, some of the highest in England, constructed to haul the vast quantities of limestone quarried in Weardale and taken to the industrial centres of the Tyne and Tees.
Weardale also boasts the birthplace of railways, for, on September 27th, 1825, twelve wagons of coal from Etherley Colliery at Witton Park were hitched to George Stephenson's Locomotion No.1 - and the first train journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway had begun.
Upcoming Events in Weardale
Send in your events to newsroom@bishopfm.com. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the events below, however, would recommend contacting the event organiser before making your journey.
| 30 Aug | Weardale Railway: Gala "Anything Goes" Weekend
Weardale Railway |
| 31 Aug | Weardale Railway: Gala "Anything Goes" Weekend
Weardale Railway |
More About Weardale
The upland scenery of Weardale is quite breathtaking, rising to over 2000 feet with hardy sheep grazing these remote moorlands which are pierced by the headwaters of the River Wear. As the river bisects the Dale, the scenery softens and one travels through attractive stone-built hamlets and market towns - each an excellent touring base.
Between these communities visitors will discover some superb picnic spots, both on the river's banks and at Tunstall and Burnhope reservoirs and excellent facilities exist for fishing, riding, water sports and even wintertime snow skiing but walking remains pre-eminent among Weardale's many pastimes.
Both serious and leisure walkers are catered for, with the magnificent 73-mile Weardale Way which follows the course of the river from Monkwearmouth to Wearhead.
Visitors can pick out any charming Weardale village, though and find the start of at least one circular leisure walk, each no more than two hours duration.
Cycling too is popular in the Dale, the quiet near-deserted roads providing ideal cycling conditions and linking with the C2C long distance cycle route.
A series of circular routes is available from the Tourist Information Centres in the Dale so take the time to relax and enjoy this most delightful of the Durham Dales.
