Category: County Durham
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A Duck’s Day Out — Low Barns Nature Reserve
A day for ducks, as they say, thus what could be more fitting than a leisurely stroll around a wetlands nature reserve. The Durham Wildlife Trust’s Low Barns reserve is a worthwhile place to visit. Even in the rain. Nestled alongside the River Wear, it boasts woodlands, grasslands, marshes, and ponds. This assortment of habitats renders…
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Confluence of the Balder and Tees
I am halfway up a hill they call the ‘Hagg,’ taking in the view of the Balder joining forces with the mighty Tees, both rivers uncomfortably full to the brim. Behind me stands Cotherstone Castle — now nothing more than a glorified mound. Used to be the abode of the Fitz Hughs, and once dubbed…
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Escomb Church
The quiet village of Escomb lies at the end of a mile long cul-de-sac down a steep bank. It’s a village which fortunes have ebbed and flowed. The origin of the name derives from the Saxon name “Eda“, which led to the medieval Ediscombe — the second element, “combe“‘ is a sheltered dwelling place. The…
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Great Crested Grebe
A wander around Hardwick Hall Country Park near Sedgefield. This is not my usual habitat so it was quite refreshing to be so close to the birdlife around the lake. By far the most majestic was this Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in its summer plumage. At least I think it is, my bird identification…
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Hawthorn Hive
This morning I was surprised that The Guardian’s Country Diary was about Chourdon Point on the Durham coast. Surprised that I just happened to have planned a run along the coastal path passing by this point. After I met up with someone in nearby Dalton. Phil Gates, the writer of the piece, describes “the soporific…
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Easington Miners’ Picnic
A day spent at Easington Colliery on the Durham Coast helping out at the National Trust’s stall at the annual miners’ picnic. The picnic began with a parade through the old surface works, now transformed into a community nature reserve. I was fascinated by the banners that were carried proudly depicting the union or colliery,…
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A coward! a coward! o’ Barney CastleDare na come out to fight a battle!
I was tempted to cycle to Barnard Castle today but just a shade too far. I didn’t think my eyesight was up to it. However, I just couldn’t let the opportunity go so here’s a photo instead from October 2017. The glorious River Tees, taken from the castle keep. A coward! a coward! o’ Barney…
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A weir on the Wear
A few hours to kill in Durham and wanting a break from the shops and touristy things headed down to the River Banks for a stroll along the Wear. On the far side were two corn mills belonging to the Bishop of Durham, known as the Jesus and Lead Mills. By the end of the…
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Nanny Meyer’s Incline
I saw the name on the map and I just knew I had to see. I had a few hours to kill in Durham so decided to drive up to the moors around the head of the Derwent Valley. The moorland around is bleak and lonely with just a scattering of farmsteads. So who was…