Teesdale Mugs

Vintage travel artwork

Teesdale, historically part of the Yorkshire Dales, is now within the Durham Dales. Teesdale, being the drainage basin for the River Tees is well known for it's many waterfalls, particularly High and Low Force. This rural landscape is close to Bowlees Visitor Centre and, if you want some exercise, can be explored at close quarters as footpaths run across the fields.

A sprinkling of Winter snow covers the mixture of colours in the hills above the farmhouse in Teesdale close to the town of MIddleton in Teesdale. A pretty picture to the visitor but perhaps a sign of a harsh winter to the local inhabitants. Teesdale was, historically, part of the Yorkshire Dales but is now within County Durham.

Vintage LNER Teesdale travel Poster

Digital painting from my own photograph. Upper Teesdale, near Langdon Beck, Durham

This is a view across upper Teesdale, near Barnard Castle in County Durham, North-East England. It was produced from my photograph of an autumn view with a dusting of early snow on the fell-tops, in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Part of the River Tees in beautiful Upper Teesdale. Low Force tumbles over the Whin Sill, a layer of hard dolerite rock (known locally as whinstone). The Whin Sill formed 295 million years ago from molten rock, which cooled and solidified underground. The Pennine Way footpath route runs alongside the River at Low Force. Low Force is also easily accessible from Bowlees Visitor Centre

The River Tees with a rock outcrop from Cronkley Scar, known as Falcon Clints. Located in Upper Teesdale, close to the border of County Durham and Weardale. The footpath takes you along to the Cow Green reservoir, located within Weardale. Canon 5D Mk3 24-104 L series lens

Maize Beck in Upper Teesdale, overlooked by a lone tree perched on the Falcon Clints. Maize beck is joined from the left of the image by the flow from Cauldron Snout, which in turn is fed by the Cow Green reservoir. Both then form The Tees. Canon 5D MKiii, 24-105 L series lens.

The lower falls on the River Tees known as Low Force - these smaller falls sit down river from the bigger and more famous High Force falls

A view from the roadside next to the Cow Green Reservoir, located in County Durham, close to the borders with Teesdale and Cumbria. The view into the distance is to the west and to Alston Moor.

Cauldron Snout is a very impressive series of falls. Falling over 100 ft in a series of 5 falls that follow in very quick succession at very low flows and which merge into one mass of white water at higher flows. It is located on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England, immediately below the dam of the Cow Green Reservoir. Canon 5D Mkiii, 24-105 L series lens

Cow Green, a two mile long reservoir was built between 1967 and 1971 to supply the industries of Teesside. Environmentally speaking this part of Upper Teesdale is of National importance, and the plan to construct this reservoir had been strongly opposed by local conservationists. Their main concern was the protection of the rich flora and fauna of the district and especially rare alpine plants like the unique Teesdale violet. Damon %D MKiii 24 - 105 L series lens

High Force Waterfall near Middleton in Teesdale carries the River Tees down over three layers of rock: Whinstone, Carboniferous Sandstone and Carboniferous Limestone. The waterfall is reached along a footpath which follows the River Tees until the falls come into view.

A view across Maize Beck in Upper Teesdale, on the border with both Durham and Cumbria. The view out over the beck passes across an area called Golden Mea, towards the distance where the lifting cloud and fog partially hides Meldon Hill. This area forms part of the walk from Langdon Beck, around Cronkley Scar, Falcon Clints to the Cow Green Reservoir

The High Force Waterfall in Forest-in-Teesdale, probably one of the most spectacular waterfalls in England caught at sunset in full flow.

A view of the route from the car park towards the Cow Green Reservoir in County Durham. The walk runs parralel to the reservoir until it reaches the dam wall, then leads onto the Pennine Way. The reservoir feeds water to the River Tees via its weir and the Cauldron Snout waterfall.

A small waterfall located on Bowlees Beck, close to the Bowlees Visitor Centre in Teesdale. Bowlees Beck is a lower stream that flows from Summerhill Force and Gibsons Cave, the Tees River close to the more famous High and Low Force waterfalls.

High Force on the River Tees in Upper Teesdale is the highest waterfall in England and the river is the boundary between Co Durham and Yorkshire

Cow Green Reservoir, is located just inside County Durham, close to Upper Teesdale and the Cumbrian border. The water from the reservoir is used to feed the River Tees. Here the water is being released from the dam and rushes towards the Cauldron Snout waterfall, before flowing onwards to the waterfalls of High Force and Low Force.

A view along the start of the River Tees, taken from the side of Cronkley Scar in Teesdale. A short walk from the Cow Green Reservoir in Weardale, the footpath takes you below the scar back towards Langdon Beck and onto High Force. The lone tree sits on the side of the scar and the blazing low sun made the capture quite difficult. Canon 5D Mk3 24-105 mm L series lens

The Low Force waterfalls located on the River Tees in Forest-in-Teesdale. The falls are located downriver from the better known High Force waterfall. Spectacularin their own right as the River Tees tumbles over Whinn Sill Rock.

The first snowfall to dust the hills surrounding Cow Green Reservoir, located in Weardale Valley close to Teesdale and the North Pennines. The crystal clear and still water made for fantastic reflections of the foreground rocks. Canon 5D Mk3 24-105 L-series lens

High Force Waterfall is the highest waterfall in England and is on the River Tees in Upper Teesdale

Looking towards Black Hill and the fells from the weir at the Cow Green Reservoir, County Durham.

The weir of the Cow Green Reservoir, located in County Durham, feeds water from the reservoir, over the weir and Cauldron Snout waterfalls and into the River Tees via Maize Beck

The Cow Green Reservoir, located in County Durham feeds water via its weirs to the River Tees. As the water is released into the weir, it tulles over the rocks, to the Cauldron Snout Waterfall, before plunging into Maize Beck and on towards the Tees.

Grassholme reservoir is one of a number of reservoirs located in the Lune Valley of County Durham, located close to the village of Middleton in Teesdale. The reservoir supplies water to Teesdale and teeside. Canon 5D Mk3 25-105 L-Series Lens

Grassholme reservoir is one of a number of reservoirs located in the Lune Valley of County Durham, located close to the village of Middleton in Teesdale. The reservoir supplies water to Teesdale and teeside.

Summerhill Force waterfall descending down into Bow Lee Beck as it meanders to the River Tees.

Grassholme reservoir is one of a number of reservoirs located in the Lune Valley of County Durham, located close to the village of Middleton in Teesdale. The reservoir supplies water to Teesdale and teeside. Canon 5D Mk3 25-105 L-Series Lens

Cow Green Reservoir is located in the dales of County Durham, close to the borders with Cumbria and Upper Teesdale. The reservoir feeds water to the River Tees, via the weir and the Cauldron Snout waterfall. In the distance is Black Hill, leading to Mickle Fell and the Warcop military firing ranges.

Low Force an 18 feet high set of falls, is the little brother to the more famous High Force, located on the River Tees, between the villages of Middleton in Teesdale in County Durham and Alston in Cumbria. During the Autum and Winter months the area can be spectacular.

High Force is probably one of the most impressive waterfalls in England. The River Tees plunges some 22 metres (71feet) from Whinn Sill as it flows through Upper Teesdale. Not the highest waterfall in England, but most certainly the one that has the largest volume of water in a single drop.

A short walk from the hurtling High Force is the Cronkley Meadow, a track leading passed the hidden waterfall of Bleabeck Force and the Cronkley Scar. An area of outstanding natural beauty in Upper Teesdale not makes for wonderful walking anytime of the year.