Leap Year day by the River Tees
12 people attending
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Join Steven for an easy stroll along the river around the small Georgian town of Yarm-on-Tees.
The town's historic centre lies in a loop of the River Tees and is overlooked by a large railway viaduct that carries the Middlesbrough to York line. The town is situated on the historic boundary between County Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire.
Not far from the town there are good paths both upstream and downstream and this walk visits both of these areas.
Even though there are virtually no noticeable climbs in the walk the slight gains in height allow distant views towards the Cleveland Hills to the south.
The River Leven in its journey inland joins forces with the Tees at Yarm to then head seaward and the river here is no longer tidal as the Tees Barrage has now created a long narrow lake. There are rowing boats now taking advantage of the higher water levels and a larger pleasure boat The Teesside Princess that is often seen heading to Yarm from the Castlegate Quay in Stockton-on-Tees.
The walk is done in a series of loops, the river is close by for the majority of the route, the paths can be a little muddy after recent rain but progress is easy and the walk is not challenging at all.
This day walk will be done at a slower pace, along the way at least two public houses will be visited and a café in the High Street. There will be plenty of time to chat and get to know the OutdoorLads on this event.
There will be a social in the area following this event so please come along to this as well if you can.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Bring snacks and a hot drink, we will be visiting somewhere to have lunch out.
There are plenty of parking spaces here near the shopping parade.
The start point is ten minutes walk from Allens West Railway Station on the Darlington to Saltburn branch line with regular trains a Nothern Rail service operates here.