Upper Teesdale Mugs

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.