BOAC - Frosterley Circular - County Durham

Date	20/06/06
Leader:	Russell S
Distance:	9.5 mls
Weather:	Fine but wind and rain threatening.
Walkers	10
Parking:	Lay-by at Hill End above Frosterley.
Map:	Ordnance Survey

Route Summary - Frosterley, Bollihope Burn, Fine Burn, Allotment House, Bollihope Burn, Frosterley.

Frosterley's claim to fame is Frosterley Marble which was dug out of many quarries, now abandoned, scattered about the surrounding hillsides. The marble often contains fossils millions of years old and it is still possible to find samples in the area.

We left the road on a footpath towards Bollihope Burn. Some difficulty was encountered at the start due to blocked off stiles and poor way-marking but we eventually located the footbridge over the burn near Pye Close. After crossing the footbridge we ascended past the buildings at Pye Close then crossed the moor to Fine Burn, where we stopped for a coffee break.

We crossed the burn and after skirting around Allotment Plantation ascended the Weardale Way towards Pikeston Fell.

To our left the landmark of the Elephant Trees could be seen on the horizon - so named because the small copse of trees looks like 2 or more elephants crossing the moor linked trunk to tail (you have to use your imagination here!).

After passing Allotment House we left the Weardale Way turning right towards Five Pikes. By now the wind had increased in strength but fortunately the rain was holding off. We had lunch sheltering from the wind in the ruins of a building beside disused quarry workings.

From here we continued across the moor passed Five Pikes heading into the wind surrounded by the continuous calls of curlews circling overhead. After passing Pawlaw Pike we descended through the heather to join the B6278 road. Here we turned right and shortly after crossing the Teesdale/Weardale boundary we picked up a footpath to our right which crossed Fine Rigg and continued down to Bollihope. We crossed Bollihope Burn then turned left onto a footpath ascending the hill. A notice here warned us to look out for adders on the moor! At the top of the hill we turned right to join the footpath taking us back to the cars. Fortunately we hadn't encountered any adders. The weather had also remained fine.

We drove down the hill and across Frosterley Bridge where we stopped for refreshments at The Black Bull Inn. This proved to be a friendly pub with many interesting artefacts, including examples of Frosterley Marble containing fossils inlaid in the floor. Most important of all it served a fine range of real ales from the Jarrow and Wylam breweries, and is open all day!