Jo’s Monday walk : Bowlees and Low Force

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Last week I left you on a glorious late December day, in the heart of Teesdale, on the North Pennines.  If you remember, I recommended you to the Bowlees Visitor Centre.  It looked very attractive from the outside but, as it is closed till half term, I can’t testify to the food.  The website does mention homemade cakes and scones and local produce, so you can’t go far wrong.

Who would have expected such a day, in the midst of all that rain?  No wonder High Force was looking thunderous and beautiful.  We can move on now, to it’s little, but no less lovely sister, Low Force.

A lane leads down from the Visitor Centre and access to the falls is across a field. (a bit swampy, on this occasion)  Through a stone gate, there’s a drop down to Wynch Bridge, suspended across the River Tees.  The rush of water below is dramatic.  Better yet, off to your right, you catch a glimpse of the tumbling falls.  Cross over the bridge and you can follow the footpath all the way back to High Force.

And we’re back to that idyllic scenery.  Look closely at the next photo and see if you can spot what’s happening there, at the falls.

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Get ready for an action shot!

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Whoo-hoo!  Much braver than me!  There were two youngsters in the canoes, and an older gentleman taking photographs.  It seems they had to keep running the falls till he got a photo he was satisfied with.  What a task master!

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Climbing out again didn’t look all that easy!  And nobody stayed dry- not even the photographer!  But at least they all survived to tell the tale.

Well!  That was exciting, wasn’t it?  And I have to say, completely unexpected.  Let’s have a more tranquil look around now, before we carry on back to High Force.  Note the fungi beneath the trees, and a ‘fossil’ on the wall.

And what could be more calming than sheep?  Can you read the message in stone?  I couldn’t really argue.  Could you?

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A wonderful place to be a walker!  I think so, too.  Let’s wander slowly, back along the river, to our start point at High Force.

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I didn’t get great shots of High Force so I’ll obviously have to go back again.  I think the best vantage point would be from the path above the falls- on the Pennine Way, as you’ll see from the map.

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Time to put the kettle on now, I think, and settle in for a read.  Many thanks to you all for the shares and the appreciation.  If you would like to join in with a walk of your own, details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  Just click on the logo above.  You’ll be very welcome.

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I have a scoop for you this week!  A world first!  And you get to see lovely Sue Slaught on video, too…

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The Glasgow Gallivanter!  Doesn’t that sound gay?  It’s Anabel!  New Year, new name, same quality :

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Would you believe, Jackie’s STILL in Mexico?

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And Amy wasn’t too far away from there, in Sarasota, Florida :

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A year-round park to use up some calories?  Sounds useful!  Thanks, Corey :

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And what could be more lovely than a lavender farm?

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Drake isn’t a bit selfish with the snow.  He has lots to spare!

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There could be a few wet feet about this week!

Buddha Caves of Vang Vieng

And while we’re being exotic, Cathy still has some tales to tell from Myanmar :

A day at Mount Popa & the Popa Taung Kalat Monastery

That’s it for now!  Hope you enjoyed it.  I think this might be a good time to mention, for any of you thinking of sharing a walk, that I have one more walk to share next week, and then I will be missing for two weeks.  The Algarve is calling- you know how it is!  While I’m gone you can check out those lovely ladies at Monday Escapes.

137 comments

  2. These pictures are so lovely. I didn’t cheat! I clicked on the picture telling us to look for what’s coming at the falls. I didn’t see anything but did notice the orange thing over to the left side. 🙂 Then found out what it was. 😦 All’s well that ends well. 🙂

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  5. Pingback: Bermuda: Somerset to the Dockyard – The Glasgow Gallivanter

  10. That photographer was more committed than I would be or else had a dodgy camera!!
    Can’t wait to see you out her – we’re away 2nd til 6th but otherwise around 😊

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    2. We were a bit disappointed the Visitor Centre wasn’t open, Viv, but the odds on a lovely day like that in between Christmas and New Year weren’t great. We’ll report on the cake when we go back 🙂 Thanks, hon. It was a great day out!

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  16. What an interesting and exciting area for a walk, and those falls are awesome…..they are very brave kayakers! You picked the right day to walk that way Jo and get those great pics.

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  17. You certainly find some fabulous places to walk,, looking forward to the warmer, dryer weather, and to take my camera out… keep ’em coming’ as they say. 😉

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