Jo’s Monday walk : High Force and Gibson’s Cave

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It’s almost like a watercolour, isn’t it?  The light was so beautiful on that late December day in Teesdale, and the sense of freedom was intoxicating. The days on either side of it had sheeted with rain, and there was little doubt in my mind that the Tees would be in full spate.  Where better to head than spectacular High Force waterfall, situated within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty?

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From the car parking at High Force, you can walk down to view the falls and then follow the river downstream to Low Force, pictured in my first photo.  A sign at the top of the path grabbed my attention- a reminder that the power of nature is nothing new at all.

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High Force formed where the River Tees crosses the Whin Sill– a hard layer of igneous rock.  The waterfall itself is comprised of three different types of rock.  The upper band is whinstone, or dolerite- a hard igneous rock which is slow to erode.  The lower section is carboniferous limestone- much softer and easily worn away.  Between the two, carboniferous sandstone was baked hard when Whin Sill was molten 295 million years ago.  This combination means that the waterfall is slowly moving upstream as the rock wears away.

I had no sense of this, as I stood there, enveloped in a world of water.  The temporary fine weather, and the respite between Christmas and New Year, had brought the crowds to gaze in wonder.  I edged as close as I could, happy to worship alongside them.

As I walked back up the path, the rocks streamed with water, and the frailty of the trees was visible all around me.  It’s many years since I was last at High Force, and I had to ask myself why.  The countryside is so beautiful!

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Looking at the map in the car park, I followed the river along to Bowlees Visitor Centre, and my attention was caught by a short walk to Gibson’s Cave.  Something new to me!  My husband knew from the glint in my eye that this was my next target.

I was delighted to find that the somewhat muddy path followed a tributary of the river, and that there were more waterfalls in store.

The route bypasses abandoned Bowlees Quarry and I stopped to read the signs.  It was too wet underfoot to do more.

The drystone walls and even the fences were covered in spongy, green moss, but it was the bed of the river that captivated.  The rock formation was unlike anything I’d seen before- an intricate scratching of patterns .

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You can see the path, running alongside the falls.  It was a little slippy in places and I had to scramble through a fallen tree, but the end was in sight- Gibson’s Cave.  But who was Gibson?  A ‘lovable rogue’, apparently.

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Did you read the explanation of the patterns on the river bed?  Layers of grey limestone, sandstone and dark shale, in a tropical sea about 330 million years ago.  Quite incredible!  And Gibson?  A happy, 16th century outlaw.

That wasn’t the end of my adventures for the day, but I think that it’s a good point at which to stop.  The Bowlees Visitor Centre is nearby and, if you’re lucky, it might be open.  Cake, or something more substantial?

Next week we’ll carry on to Low Force.  It’s just as lovely, so I hope that you can join me.

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First things first- let’s put the kettle on and get settled for a good read.  Huge thanks to my lovely contributors!  If you have a walk you’d like to share I’m always happy to have you along.  Details of how to join in are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  Just click on the logo above.

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Let’s start with Debbie, and some beautiful views of Edinburgh :

Up Calton Hill

Jackie is still enjoying Mexico!

Monday Walk- La Noria

And Amy takes me to a beach I remember from long ago :

Monday Walk : Clearwater Beach

There’s one thing my friend Drake has for sure!

Independent Mind  (And a love of beautiful places too)

Back to the rain forest with Lee Ann for two super walks, in quite different places!

O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk

MacRitchie Trails Rainforest Walk

Anyone ready for a snowy walk yet?  Not too much snow, I promise!

Alone in the Snow : Mynydd Mawr

Surely one of the prettiest walks from the festive season!  Many thanks, Jude :

Christmas Glow

Meanwhile, Richard is topical (and maybe a bit windswept!) :

There’s more to Boscastle than floods

And Denzil is eating blackberries :

Masbourg : How Green is my Valley

If you had a garden like Pauline’s, you would never mind coming home :

Back Home in the Garden

That’s it for another week!  My walking group will be out today, weather permitting.  First walk together after the New Year, and we’re sticking to footpaths- no boggy fields!  Take care of yourselves!

 

 

150 comments

  1. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Bowlees and Low Force | restlessjo

  2. That first picture is stunning, Jo! It does look like a watercolor, or better yet, an oil painting, right up there with the Masters! What a wonderful place to explore. I love your photos of the patterns in the rock bed too. Thanks for taking us along on this gorgeous walk. xxx

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  7. That’s an incredibly interesting about the waterfall on the move! Natural wonders! I think you’re quite right in describing some of the photos as looking like watercolors. They really are. I love the huge expanse of space filled with such glorious light and color!

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    1. I’d never thought about the falls in that context either, Debbie. I’m always too busy getting excited by them! Just like a kid! 🙂 Thank you for indulging me 🙂 🙂

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  12. They do look like watercolour paintings Jo. Such a lovely sight and so peaceful! I just love the waterfalls. Are people allowed to go in and swim there?

    Thanks for the lovely walk and amazing photos. I enjoyed as always. 😀 ♥

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      1. Then you would most definitely find me under one of those waterfalls next time. 😆

        Thanks, you too. 😀 ♥

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  15. Oh Jo, what happened? I thought I came by, but then I realised I saw your first beautiful photo on Facebook, thinking then and now that it looks like a watercolour, and realising I didn’t comment here as I meant to 😦 I think I’m losing it! What a gorgeous place, and so many waterfalls too! Thank you for another perfect walk…can we go again please? xx

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    1. And I had to drag you out of the spam by your heels! Pure chance because I saw your ‘like’ a little while ago and thought to myself, poor Sherri hasn’t got time to comment. Bless your heart, of course you did! But you really don’t need to hon. I know the pressures. Love you for it 🙂 🙂

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      1. Ahh…just read this Jo, after leaving you a message on my blog in case!!! Thank you so much for dragging me out of spam prison. Just goes to show how well you know me! I will be able to comment now hopefully. It happened to me on three blogs yesterday, so annoying. And I love you and your blog, how could I not comment? I can’t keep quiet, haha 😀

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  17. The light and the soft fresh hues of the first image are beautiful , but it is indeed the green moss and abstract, scratchy patterns of the river bed that hold me in thrall. Fabulous walk to return to Jo. Are you back in the Algrave/Poland already?

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  20. This brought back great memories of our visit there a couple of years ago – in February but the weather much the same. Beautiful and a very uplifting walk which comes across in this lovely post. I must admit I didn’t know all the details though – thank you!

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    1. I usually only acquire the details when I start to write the walk, Annika. I take photos of signs along the way but I’m much more engaged with nature than the facts whilst I’m there. I’m busy putting part 2 together, which you will also be familiar with. 🙂

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      1. I look forward to Part 2! I’m terrible at stopping to read signs and information boards etc. As my husband stops to study them in detail, I’ll lift my head to the sun, my eyes to the view and ask him to tell me some information. I loved the High Force walk and at the end there was the usual cafe, serving huge scones, hot chocolate and were kind enough to stay open longer for us since we were so late in the day.

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