WEARDALE WATERSHED

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While many were glued to Cricket at Chester Le Street, Stuart Ferguson ,a Mountain Runner was completing a run of the Weardale Watershed. A round of 24 principle hills above 1,500ft visited in order [ 15 of these are over 2,000ft ], clockwise route from Wolsingham traversing the North and South skyline above Weardale the most northerly of the Durham Dales. The Route devised by Stuart Ferguson, starting at 0500 on Saturday 10th August 2013, Stuart completed the round solo in 13 hours and 54 minutes, with a Total Mileage: 50.35 and Height Gain: 4,800 feet.
 
Stu arriving at Killhope Cross after being soaked in a heavy downpour. Picture By Emma Ferguson

The route traverses remote, exposed high moorland, peak hags, tussocks with limited rough tracks and trails. Apart from traversing the villages of Wolsingham and Rookope, the only site of tarmac is at high level road crossings.

The Weather was Mostly Dry, a couple of heavy rain showers around lunchtime, partly sunny, light westerly wind, Temperature, was a high of 16 degrees Centigrade, but a chilly 9 at 0500.

Leg 1 - Wolsingham to Killhope Cross. Time – 7 hours 04 minutes. Mileage 27.46 miles

TOP
GR
Height in m
Five Pikes
014329
478
Pawlaw Pike
008322
488
Harnisha Hill
971333
589
Outberry Plain
938331
656
James Hill
923326
675
Dora’s Seat
888332
658
Fendith Hill
877333
697
Chapelfell Top
876344
703
Noon Hill
854358
632
Three Pikes
835344
651
Great Stoney Hill
824359
708
Scaud Hill
802368
694
Burnhope Seat
788376
746
Dead Stones
794399
709
Nags Head
795414
673
Knoutberry Hill
803421
668


Leg 2 - Killhope Cross to Wolsingham. Time – 6 hours 50 minutes. Mileage 22.89 miles.

Killhope Law
819448
673
Burtree Fell
868429
607
White Edge
890423
582
Windy Hill
915412
554
Rookhope Village
 
 
Long Law
952432
524
Long Hill
958423
512
Collier Law
019418
516
Fatherley Hill
023395
459
 

Stuart’s wife and daughter met him at Killhope Cross, with water to top up his supply, but mainly to check he was still alive and kicking.

A great day out showcasing what Weardale can offer the more adventurous, wilderness running at it’s best.

Comments

Unknown said…
Hi,
I'm interested in having a crack at this route this year and I'm wondering which route you took to link up Fatherley Hill to Wolsingham - did you decend to Frosterley and then follow the path along the Wear?
Thanks, Shane (shaneharris1@hotmail.co.uk)
11 February 2021 at 08:45
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