Teesdale Way Upstream to Darlington
8 people attending
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Join Steven and the OutdoorLads for an enjoyable fourteen mile lowland and riverside hike along the beautiful River Tees.
The linear route makes use of the long distance path the Teesdale Way winding through the lower Tees Valley on wide paths, tracks, quiet lanes and passing through several pretty villages on both the County Durham and Yorkshire side of the river.
There is much to see on this walk, the group will go through a couple of stretches of quiet woodlands full of birdlife, visit several old churches, see a brief glimpse of Middlesbrough FC's training ground facilities at Rockcliffe Hall and cross the river on an impressive stone bridge spanning the Yorkshire / County Durham border.
There are several public houses with gardens along the way and we will be stopping for refreshments at a few so this walk will not be a faster march more a rambling pace. We will be stopping at one long enough to get a snack or light meal as well as having a packed lunch stop.
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 a good sized packed lunch and at least two litres of water