IanF
Moderator
Barnard Castle is a delightful market town at the entrance to Teesdale in County Durham. I am biased towards it as I was born and bred there. Really the town is a centre for wildlife walks in every direction, but I'll just mention two in the forums, the closest to the town itself.
Tees Banks Woods run from the town itself upstream as far as the dismantled viaduct of which only the butresses remain. Plans are now a foot to turn it into a tourist attraction by stringing a suspension bridge across the span between the old buttresses. The idea stemmed from the Capilano Bridge in Canada. 'Barney Bridge' as proposed, will be wider and higher. As a kid the old viaduct used to make a superb circular walk of about two miles from the town. At present, it means an eight mile one via Cotherstone. Still a nice walk but a little lengthy.
On entering the town, head for the Post Office and turn along the road alongside - Raby Avenue. Follow to it's end then dog-leg left and right into Flatts Road and head to the end and park up. There is loads of parking available on the roadsides.
Three paths then run off from the road end, all delightful walks. Either the left or 'middle path' as we call it lead down to the river. The left one is quite steep and leads to the pipe birdge across the river. The middle one is more gentle and surfaced with grit and has steps on the short steeper section. Taking this path leads you down towards Percy Beck. I mention this path because half way down the hill as you reach the steps, in Spring (late April) Wood Warblers can been seen and heard. Woodpeckers are always a good bet in this section too. On reaching the beck, you cross by a wooden footbridge and then turn left, carry on for a hundred yards an then turn right across another wooden footbridge, the decking made from a flat sawn tree trunk. It's worth pausing on the bridge and looking downstream towards the River Tees thirty yards away. This little section is a haven for birds nesting and feeding. In Spring (April-May) Dipper, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, Wren, Tree Creeper, Mistle Thrush haunt this small section in feeding frenzies.
Crossing the beck leads to the 'bandstand' an area of grass with seats. Again worth a check as the same bird species mentioned above feed freely on the stones at the river edge or quite close to the seats in the sparse bushes and trees.
Carrying on upstream you pass through Willow and thorn bushes, always a good chance for Blackcap, Marsh and Willow Tit, Willow Warbler etc. Following the path through the woods numerous birds can be heard in the dense foliage which can be difficult to spot. Look at every knot hole and you'll be suprised just how many birds are nesting in them. Tawny Owl and the odd Barn Owl are also worth checking for in the trees. It's also worth keeping an eye on the river itself where Goosanders are often seen. On the far bank as once you reach a small rocky cliff area called the 'Gent's Swimming Pool', Kingfisher are a real chance as they feed off the overhanging trees on both sides of the river. Above the Gent's is the start of 'Waterboatman's Island' a shingle area, again popular with many feeding birds, especially the Dipper and Wagtails off the stones.
On reaching the top of the island where the stones finish, watch out for Pied Flycatcher. I found four different pairs in early May 2003. They seem very territorial and if disturbed return to the same branch within a few minutes. Wood Warbler also breed here and offer good views. The mature trees often hold Treecreeper and Nuthatch. As you approach the old viaduct also be aware there may be Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the mature trees. On reaching some stone steps, turn right following them up to below the arch of the viaduct. The Woods continue upstream from here and lead into different habitats, and some deightful scenery but by now you are one mile from the town and it's worth considering the return journey. The choice is from the arch taking the path that leads upwards and follows the top of the woods back to Barnard Castle coming out beside the first Percy Beck Bridge. This is a pleasant walk, and being along side the arable fields can give a different selection of bird species. I generally find though, being more exposed, fewer birds are seen. Instead I usually prefer retracing my steps back along the path I've just walked up or heading through the arch, downhill until the river is reached again and turning left onto the riverside path again and heading downstream. That section has mature coniferous trees and is very pleasant and time of the year. It's worth mentioning that by turning upstream for half a mile you reach a very pleasant waterfall with pools above and below. ll sorts of birds hang around here. Crayfish are common in the summer and devoured remains are easily found or live specimens under the stones. A few yards upstream are about thirty steps carved from the cliff face known locally as 'Cat Steps' well worth a look. From here, unless you want to cntinue to Cotherstone another 21/2 miles, it's worth heading back to Barney down the river.
Basically it's a question then of retracing your stpes back to the town.
Tees Banks Woods run from the town itself upstream as far as the dismantled viaduct of which only the butresses remain. Plans are now a foot to turn it into a tourist attraction by stringing a suspension bridge across the span between the old buttresses. The idea stemmed from the Capilano Bridge in Canada. 'Barney Bridge' as proposed, will be wider and higher. As a kid the old viaduct used to make a superb circular walk of about two miles from the town. At present, it means an eight mile one via Cotherstone. Still a nice walk but a little lengthy.
On entering the town, head for the Post Office and turn along the road alongside - Raby Avenue. Follow to it's end then dog-leg left and right into Flatts Road and head to the end and park up. There is loads of parking available on the roadsides.
Three paths then run off from the road end, all delightful walks. Either the left or 'middle path' as we call it lead down to the river. The left one is quite steep and leads to the pipe birdge across the river. The middle one is more gentle and surfaced with grit and has steps on the short steeper section. Taking this path leads you down towards Percy Beck. I mention this path because half way down the hill as you reach the steps, in Spring (late April) Wood Warblers can been seen and heard. Woodpeckers are always a good bet in this section too. On reaching the beck, you cross by a wooden footbridge and then turn left, carry on for a hundred yards an then turn right across another wooden footbridge, the decking made from a flat sawn tree trunk. It's worth pausing on the bridge and looking downstream towards the River Tees thirty yards away. This little section is a haven for birds nesting and feeding. In Spring (April-May) Dipper, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, Wren, Tree Creeper, Mistle Thrush haunt this small section in feeding frenzies.
Crossing the beck leads to the 'bandstand' an area of grass with seats. Again worth a check as the same bird species mentioned above feed freely on the stones at the river edge or quite close to the seats in the sparse bushes and trees.
Carrying on upstream you pass through Willow and thorn bushes, always a good chance for Blackcap, Marsh and Willow Tit, Willow Warbler etc. Following the path through the woods numerous birds can be heard in the dense foliage which can be difficult to spot. Look at every knot hole and you'll be suprised just how many birds are nesting in them. Tawny Owl and the odd Barn Owl are also worth checking for in the trees. It's also worth keeping an eye on the river itself where Goosanders are often seen. On the far bank as once you reach a small rocky cliff area called the 'Gent's Swimming Pool', Kingfisher are a real chance as they feed off the overhanging trees on both sides of the river. Above the Gent's is the start of 'Waterboatman's Island' a shingle area, again popular with many feeding birds, especially the Dipper and Wagtails off the stones.
On reaching the top of the island where the stones finish, watch out for Pied Flycatcher. I found four different pairs in early May 2003. They seem very territorial and if disturbed return to the same branch within a few minutes. Wood Warbler also breed here and offer good views. The mature trees often hold Treecreeper and Nuthatch. As you approach the old viaduct also be aware there may be Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the mature trees. On reaching some stone steps, turn right following them up to below the arch of the viaduct. The Woods continue upstream from here and lead into different habitats, and some deightful scenery but by now you are one mile from the town and it's worth considering the return journey. The choice is from the arch taking the path that leads upwards and follows the top of the woods back to Barnard Castle coming out beside the first Percy Beck Bridge. This is a pleasant walk, and being along side the arable fields can give a different selection of bird species. I generally find though, being more exposed, fewer birds are seen. Instead I usually prefer retracing my steps back along the path I've just walked up or heading through the arch, downhill until the river is reached again and turning left onto the riverside path again and heading downstream. That section has mature coniferous trees and is very pleasant and time of the year. It's worth mentioning that by turning upstream for half a mile you reach a very pleasant waterfall with pools above and below. ll sorts of birds hang around here. Crayfish are common in the summer and devoured remains are easily found or live specimens under the stones. A few yards upstream are about thirty steps carved from the cliff face known locally as 'Cat Steps' well worth a look. From here, unless you want to cntinue to Cotherstone another 21/2 miles, it's worth heading back to Barney down the river.
Basically it's a question then of retracing your stpes back to the town.
