Natural Britain, Cauldron Snout, County Durham Natural Britain Tweet Cauldron Snout is a waterfall situated immediately below a dam on the Cow Green Reservoir. The dam and waterfall are on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England. The water issues from below a dam built on to the eastern end of the reservoir. This substantial flow then cascades over a series of cataracts over rocky steps. At 200 yards long it is reckoned to be the longest waterfall in England. The vertical distance from the first cataract to the last is 200 feet, giving it claim to the title of the highest waterfall in England. From Cauldron Snout the Tees makes its way towards High Force , which is further down stream. High Force is undoubtedly England's biggest waterfall but Cauldron Snout is one of the few examples of extreme British landscape. It attracts a lot of visitors who are happy to make the almost two mile walk from the nearest car park at Cow Green Reservoir in order to take in the views. Cow Green was constructed between 1967 and 1971. The two mile long reservoir was built to supply the industries of Teesside.

The Upper Teesdale area has long been recognised as of national importance environmentally. Plans to locate the reservoir there were met with staunch opposition from local conservationists. There was justifiable concern for the rich flora and fauna found in the area, including rare alpine plants like the unique Teesdale violet. Some concerns were met, however, as only an area of about one tenth of the violet's habitat was destroyed by the completion of the reservoir. In 1969, in an effort to balance the development, the remaining area was designated a National Nature Reserve. The Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve covers an area stretching from the upper edge of enclosed land in the Eden Valley, over Great Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell and Knock Fell and on to the upper end of the Cow Green reservoir. It extends southwards to the summit of Mickle Fell and to the High Force waterfall that lies down river to the east. The county border between Cumbria and County Durham runs down the middle of the reservoir. Guided walks along the Widdybank Fell nature trail leave from the Cow Green Reservoir car park daily at 2.00 pm. The walk takes the visitor to the dam and Cauldron Snout.

Large panels at the car park display information about the reserve, its animal life, climate, geology and vegetation. Cauldron Snout & Cow Green Reservoir - River Tees - YouTube Cauldron Snout & Cow Green Reservoir - River Tees Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 1, 2013 Cauldron Snout is a waterfall on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England, immediately below the dam of the Cow Green Reservoir. Situated on the River tees a few miles upstream of the High Force waterfall, and is on the boundary between County Durham and Cumbria, England. The waterfall lies within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and European Geopark. It is more a long cataract than a waterfall, and at 200 yards (180 m) long, reckoned to be the longest waterfall in England.

Conditions when I filmed were warm despite the snow & ice, as Spring has just about arrived. Please note: that you need to be fit & active to attempt the descent to the bowl of Cauldron Snout, as the descent is slippery during most of the year, and that many of the granite boulders, of which you must scramble over over are up-to 3 feet in height. Cow Green Reservoir was constructed during the 1960's to supply water for industrial use on Teeside, the resulting man made reservoir was never required due to over capacity and the steady decline of industry in the region since the 1970's. The good news though is that there are never any hose pipe bans in this region,saying this 'stranger things have happened though?'. The area of Cow Green Reservoir has become a major nature reserve and was the subject of many documentary by local botanist and naturalist Professor. David Bellamy during the 1980's. Rare alpine plants occupy the reserve, and with the Great Whinn Sill have created unique habits for other wild-life.

The radar station that you can see is at DunnFell, most people have possibly noticed it as they cross the North of England east to west on the A66. It is part of the civil aviation radar network covering the UK, and the road leading up-to it is the highest public road in England. Category River Tees - Cauldron Snout to High Force | North East | England | Rivers - The UK Rivers Guidebook The UK Rivers Guidebook River Tees - Cauldron Snout to High Force River Tees - Cauldron Snout to High Force Last Updated: 03 June 2013 GUIDE TO THE RIVER TEES (Cauldron Snout to High Force) NAME OF RIVER: Tees. WHERE IS IT?: In Teesdale! The North East of England, flowing out of Cow Green reservoir. OS Grid Ref: Lng: PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Take the B6277 heading northwest; pass the Bowlees Parking/Picnic area at Low Force about a mile up the road is the sign for Ettersgill. Take this turning. Immediately you will find a lay by area. This is the parking for the get out.

This can also be used as parking for the get in for the Upper Tees, so it is often busy with paddler’s cars. (NY 894284) Continue along the B6277 after 300m you will see a track on the left. This will take you from the get out back to your shuttle car. Carry on past the High Force Hotel. After about 9k turn left at Langdon Beck. The get in, Cow Green Reservoir is sign posted. Park at the reservoir car park (NY 814307) follow the track to the dam (2km) APPROX LENGTH: 9.5km of paddling plus 3.5k of walking in/out. TIME NEEDED: 3-4hrs. ACCESS HASSLES: No known agreements or disagreements. This section is of no interest to anglers and paddlers rarely go there. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: It is rare to find this section in condition for the trip to Ettersgill. (The levels needed to run Cauldron Snout are a different matter. Please see separate guide .) After heavy rain on Cross Fell/ Harwood this section goes.

The ordinary compensation flow from Cow Green reservoir (1-2 pipes on the dam) is not enough to make this a pleasant descent. If everything else in the area has too much water for your canoe, this section will go. It is worth taking a walk up to the top of High Force, along the Pennine Way from the Ettersgill layby. That way you can be sure that you know the lie of the land in order to portage High Force in good time, and you can see if the levels are too your liking. If it looks like the section above High Force will go, then the rest will! Alternatively; you can see High Force from the road just before the High Force Hotel. If water is coming over both sides, this section will definitely go. GRADING: 2/3 MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: The put-in ( Cauldron Snout ) and the get-out (High Force). GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is an eccentric and rarely paddled section of the Tees. Different aspects of it will appeal to a spectrum of paddlers… all of whom will be ‘enthusiasts’ in one way or another. I have paddled it in my canoe.

The first couple of hundred meters of this section is the dictionary definition of gnarl. Nick Doll first ran Cauldron Snout in the 80’s and a few people have paddled it since then. It is 180m of G5+ and England’s longest cascade waterfall. If that wasn’t scary enough… it is also haunted by the ghost of a Victorian suicide called ‘The Singing Lady.’ This is the upper limit of known paddling on the Tees. The source of the Tees is about 8km east above Cow Green Reservoir on Cross Fell (the highest point in the Pennines at 2930 feet) about a mile from the source of the South Tyne. Cow Green dam was built between 1967 and 1971 to supply water to the industries on Teesside. The building of the dam stopped the characteristic surges of the Tees, holding back the water from Cross Fell. The river now runs on compensation flow and release system. At this time release dated are not published. Parking for the get in is at Cow Green reservoir (NY 810309). This is free. There follows a long walk to the put in.

Open boaters will need a trolley. However, it is on a tarmac track and largely down hill. The bleak upland habitat around Cow Green is a National Nature Reserve due to the rare birds, wildlife and plant life found there. You might be tempted to paddle down the Cow Green… however, there are signs prohibiting water sports on the reservoir. After about 250 meters of G2/3 ledges there is a bridge and the river turns sharply left. This is the start of Cauldron Snout (NY814287) 180m of G5+. This is very difficult to portage and could be a graded as a scramble. Take the Pennine Way, river left. This is the limit of possibility for open canoe portage for sane people. However, if you were sane you wouldn’t have just portaged 2.5k to get there. The area is a protected environment and less sporting portage routes are fenced off to protect the land. After Cauldron Snout the river is a consistent G2 with mainly shingle type rapids. The Pennine way runs along side for most of the way.

Even so, there is a wonderful remote feel about this place, added to by the difficulty in getting there. The river is overshadowed by massive whin sill cliffs of Cronkley Scar and Falcon Clints making a dramatic backdrop to the journey. Almost immediately tributaries start joining the Tees. Maizebeck ,almost at the put in, then Merrygill at 1.2km, Harwood beck at 6.2 km. These drain watersheds other than Cross Fell and might unexpectedly raise the level of water in the river. At 9.5k you will see a stone quarry with workings, buildings and machinery on river left. This is a sign to prepare to get out river right. You must get out by the end of the quarry site. The low woodland at the far end of the quarry marks the start of the rapids that lead in to High Force. There is only one quarry site; you cannot mistake it for anything else. GET OUT! High Force, the largest waterfall in England is coming up. (NY 880283) No one has ever paddled it. A paddler who declared his intention to paddle it back in the early 90’was arrested for his own protection.

Statistically you have less than a one in three chance of survival if you were to go over it. There is now a long (1.5km) but down but mainly down hill portage/walk out along the Pennine Way. However, it is worth it because you get to see High Force. Follow the Pennine Way through a gate and there is a viewing area where you can peer down the drop. After this an amazing Juniper wood follows the path down hill to a foot Bridge. This is another protected environment and you need to disinfect your footwear as you enter and leave it. If you have parked in the lay by at Ettersgill you cross the river here and follow the track up the hill till it joins the main road. Turn right and the lay by is 300m along the road. Alternatively you might choose to add the Upper Tees , High Force- Low Force/Middleton section to this trip. OTHER NOTES: WHEN YOU SEE THE QUARRY SITE ON RIVER LEFT YOU MUST GET OUT RIVER RIGHT. IF YOU DO NOT GET OUT HERE YOU WILL DIE. CONTRIBUTED BY: Lizzie Harrington.

Cauldron Snout Cauldron Snout Bridges on the Tweed CAULDRON SNOUT "At the bottom there is time to stand and take in a marvellous panorama, an amphitheatre of sheer wonder, the living heart of Upper Teesdale complete with pulsing water. Behind to the north, tower the rock bastions of Falcon Clints. As the name suggests, golden eagles used to wheel over these great cliffs. Perhaps one day they will be back to enjoy lost eyries, still full of fern and heather. Cowberry and crowberry cling to the cliffs with the odd gnarled mountain ash hinting of the forest that once did its best to cover the whole terrain." England's Last Wilderness. A journey Through the North Pennines. David Bellamy and Brendan Quayle. 1989 The Tees soon begins to curve south upstream from Cronkley Bridge, passing the high cliffs of Cronkley Scar and Falcon Clints. Cauldron Snout lies just above that part of the river, a series of waterfalls over 400 yards (366 metres) long.

They are England's biggest cataract, 8 falls where the Tees drops 220 feet (60 metres) as it cascades over the Whin Sill. Spray rises as the water hits the rocks and from the top the Tees can be seen below, relapsing into the tranquil mode it displayed before plunging over the falls. At their foot Maize Beck adds its waters to the Tees. Before the reservoir at Cow Green was constructed to regulate the flow of water, Cauldron Snout and High Force were more violent and powerful than they are today. Nevertheless, the sight and sound of this large volume of water thundering over the rocks is still impressive. It is possible to clamber down the rocks beside the falls where a path, actually the Pennine Way, leads to Langdon Beck on the main B6277 road. Another branch of the footpath goes east to Middleton. Cauldron Snout is a very appropriate name for such a natural phenomenon.

Cauldron Snout Facts Teesdale | former district, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com former district, England, United Kingdom Written By: Durham Teesdale, former district, administrative county of Durham , northeastern England , in the southwestern part of the county. The former district lies on both sides of the River Tees. The area north of the river belongs to the historic county of Durham, and the area to the south lies in the historic county of Yorkshire. Teesdale is mostly an upland area within the northern Pennines . Its bleak basalt and limestone moorlands gradually descend eastward from an elevation of about 2,500 to 600 feet (760 to 185 metres) and border the Tees valley on both north and south. The arable, undulating plain northeast of the Tees valley and near Barnard Castle grows cereals, potatoes, and fodder crops; dairy cattle are also raised in the area. Cauldron Snout waterfall on the River Tees, Teesdale, Eng. Alan J. White Coal mining was never as important in Teesdale as it was in the eastern portion of the county of Durham.

A Quaker-owned company mined lead deposits in the narrow upper section of the western Tees valley from about 1750 to the early 20th century; the company’s concern for the well-being of its workers can still be seen in the substantial stone buildings it erected for them at Middleton-in-Teesdale and other nearby villages. The stark, often snow-covered mountains of western Teesdale contain waterfalls, rare flowering plants, and reservoirs supplying water to heavy industries near the North Sea . Medieval remains in the area include the well-preserved Raby Castle near the town (parish) of Staindrop. The old market centre of Barnard Castle has been preserved through its official designation as a conservation area. It was in the town of Barnard Castle in 1838 that Charles Dickens was inspired to write the novel Nicholas Nickleby.

Learn More in these related articles: Barnard Castle and Teesdale Photo: top of page and above Durham Cathedral and Castle and Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle photographed by David Simpson Photo: High Force by kind permission of J.D.Scott, Ingleton, Teesdale Photos : top of page and above: Durham City Cathedral, Castle and Framwellgate Bridge Photo: Chester-le-Street church, photographed by David Simpson Photo: Durham Cathedral photographed by David Simpson Photo: High Force by kind permission of J.D.Scott, Ingleton, Teesdale Teesdale and Barnard Castle CROSS FELL : WHERE TEES IS BORN Born in the bleak North Pennine moorlands of east Cumbria, the River Tees begins its journey to the sea on the southern slopes of Cross Fell, where it rises less than a mile from the source of the River South Tyne . Cross Fell is the highest point in the Pennines and at 2930 feet this hill is a very familiar sight to walkers on the Pennine Way. In times gone by Cross Fell was associated with demons and was often known as the `Fiends Fell', possibly because of the great wind it can produce in the valley of the Eden to its west.

Known as the Helm Wind, this fierce gale of hurricane proportions, can strike most unexpectedly during the spring. Ruins of Barnard Castle's castle above the River Tees : David Simpson COW GREEN RESERVOIR RARE PLANTS AND A GREEN HAIRED MERMAID From its boggy origins on Cross Fell the River Tees flows five miles east before entering North East England near Viewing Hill, (2099 feet). Here it is soon engulfed by Cow Green, a two mile long reservoir which was built between 1967 and 1971 to supply the industries of Teesside. Environmentally speaking this part of Upper Teesdale is of National importance and the plan to construct this reservoir had been strongly opposed by local conservationists. Their main concern was the protection of the rich flora and fauna of the district and especially rare alpine plants like the unique Teesdale violet. Thankfully only about a tenth of this plant's habitat was destroyed by the completion of the reservoir.

The remaining area was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1969.On a less serious note the creation of the Cow Green Reservoir may have destroyed the habitat of a certain Peg Powler, the grotesque green-haired mermaid of the Tees who used to inhabit the valley now occupied by the reservoir. Her presence could be indicated by frothy substances on the river known as Peg Powler's Suds and children were always warned to stay clear as she had an insatiable appetite for youngsters. Beware she may still be there. CAULDRON SNOUT ENGLAND'S HIGHEST WATERFALL At the eastern end of Cow Green Reservoir, beyond the dam, the Tees rushes in a series of cataracts over a 200 yard long rocky `stairway' called Cauldron Snout. The vertical distance from the first cataract to the last is 200 feet, making this wonderfully named waterfall the highest in England. Cauldron Snout is said to be haunted by a ghost called the `Singing Lady' whose sad tale is that of a young Victorian farm girl who drowned herself in the waterfall when her love affair with a local lead miner came to an end.

On cold moonlit nights she may be seen sitting on a rock near the falls where she sadly laments the loss of her loved one. Above: High Force Waterfall, by kind permission of J.D.Scott, Ingleton, Teesdale THE HIGH FORCE, ENGLAND'S BIGGEST WATERFALL From Cauldron Snout the Tees meanders around the huge whin sill cliffs of Cronkley Scar and Falcon Clints and is joined by the Maizebeck, Merrygill, Harwood and Blea Becks as it makes its way towards High Forcewhich is undoubtedly England's biggest waterfall and one of the most impressive sights of the region. It is best seen after a heavy downpour when the sound of the Tees roaring over a vertical drop of seventy feet almost deafens the observer. High Force is in fact two falls, each situated on either side of a massive central rock, but the smaller northern fall is only occasionally seen in action. One such occasion was the 24th of June, 1880 when two men became trapped on the central rock after one of the sudden surges of the Tees known locally as the `roll' occured.

The first man was pulled free by means of a rope, but the second was not so lucky, his rope snapped and unfortunately he drowned. Tragically both men would probably have survived had they stayed where they were, as there are no recorded instances of the two falls ever merging over the central rock. FORCES :VIKING WATERFALLS A number of other waterfalls can be found in this part of Teesdale, including the White Force, Bleabeck Force, Maizebeck Force and Low Force. Naturally Force is a word of Viking origin, deriving from the Old NorseFors which simply means waterfall. ( See Place Names ) It is interesting to note that in Weardale and Northumberland a waterfall is usually called a Linn , a word of Anglo-Celtic origin. Two of the most attractive little waterfalls in the valley are only a little further downstream from High Force. The first is Low Force which as might be expected is a smaller simpler version of its higher brother. Unlike High Force it is formed by a series of cascades. Here the Tees is crossed by an iron suspension footbridge built in 1830 which replaced what was reputedly the earliest suspension bridge in Europe.

Not far from Low Force the Tees is joined by the Bowlees Beck on which we find the Summerhill Force, where the stream flows over a band of limestone.This waterfall has partly undercut the limestone behind it to form the picturesque cavern known as Gibson's Cave. MIDDLETON IN TEESDALE A LEAD MINING PAST Four miles downstream from High Force we reach the attractive little town of Middleton in Teesdale, on the Durham side of the river at the point where the Tees is joined by the Hudeshope Beck. Middleton is known to have existed in the days of the Vikings when it was owned by King Cnut or Canute (See Raby below), but did not grow significantly until the nineteenth century when it became an important lead mining centre. Today it has a population of around 1500. Lead mining was once a widespread activity in the Middleton area and is commemorated in the Teesdale song `Four Pence A Day'. "The ore is waiting in the tub, the snows upon the fell, Canny folk are sleeping yet, but lead is reet to sell Come me little washer lad come lets away, We're bound down for slavery for fourpence a day.

Its early in the morning we rise at five o'clock, And the little slaves come to the door to knock, knock, knock, Come me little washer lad come lets away, It's very hard to work for fourpence a day. My father was a miner he worked down in the town' Twas hard work and poverty that always kept him down, He aimed for me to go to school but brass he couldn't pay, So I had to go to the washing rake for fourpence a day. My mother rises out of bed with tears on her cheeks Puts my wallet on her shoulderwhich has come to serve a week, It often fills her great big heart when she unto me say I never thought thou would have worked for fourpence a day. Four pence a day,me lad, and very hard to work And never a pleasant look from a gruffy looking 'Turk', His conscience it may fall and his heart may give away Then he'll raise our wages to nine pence a day." In 1880 Middleton became the headquarters of the benevolent Quaker owned, London Lead Company which built houses, schools and libraries for its workers and became the first British company to introduce the five day week.

One of the company's employees was a certain Richard Watson known as 'the Teesdale Poet' (1833-1891), who once wrote; "I've wandered many a weary mile, And in strange countries been; I've dwelt in towns and on wild moors, And curious sights I've seen; But still my heart clings to the dale Where Tees rolls to the sea, Compared with what I've seen I'll say The Teesdale hills for me." LUNEDALE AND BALDERSDALE East of Middleton, the Tees is joined by the River Lune and River Balder, which in their upper valleys form a kind of `minature lake district', comprised of the Selset, Grassholme, Balderhead, Blackton and Hury reservoirs. Baldersdale is divided from Lunedale by the moors of Hunderthwaite and Romaldkirk, which both take their names from nearby villages.Hunderthwaite is a Viking place name which may mean Hunrothr's or Hundor's meadow. In 1070 A.D.

it was the scene of a battle in which King Malcolm of Scotland heavily defeated the local people.Romaldkirk is a picturesque little village on the south bank of the Tees between the Lune and Balder and takes its name from a Northumbrian saint called Romald. The name of the village church, known as the `Cathedral of the Dales' is dedicated to the memory of Romald, about whom we know very little, as he died while only a baby. Visitors to Romaldkirk should call into one of the local pubs which have a tradition for good strong beer dating back to the days when the village had its own brewery. On the other hand those with a more unquenchable thirst might like to sample the qualities of the village stream; it is called the Beer Beck!.Two miles downstream from Romaldkirk we find the village of Cotherstone, which is famous as the home of Cotherstone cheese, one of a number of delicatessens unique to the North. Cotherstone is situated at the confluence of the Tees and Balder and may have been of importance in Viking times.

BALDER AND ODIN : TWO VIKING GODS The River Balder may well take its name from Balder, the Norse god of light and innocence. Balder was the son of Odin and Freyja who could be described as `The king and Queen of the Gods'. It has been suggested that there are earthworks close to the village of Cotherstone which may be the remains of a Viking temple to the honour of Balder. When Denmark's raven soared on high, Triumphant through Northumbrian sky, Till, hovering near, her fatal croak Bade Reged's Britons dread the yoke; And the broad shadow of her wing Blackened each cataract and spring, Where Tees in tumult leaves his source, Thundering o'er Caldron and High Force.

"Balder named from Odin's son ; And Greta, to whose banks ere long We lead the lovers of the song ; And silver Lune from Stainmore wild And fairy Thorsgill's murmuring child" Thor was of course the god of Thunder while Odin, the one eyed god of wisdom, poetry, agriculture, war and death is also commemorated in the locality under his Anglo-Saxon name of Woden at a place called Woden Croft. This place and the name of the River Balder certainly captured the imagination of Sir Walter Scott, in his poem `Rokeby';" Beneath the shade the Northmen came, Fixed on each vale a Runic name, Reared high their altar's rugged stone, And gave their gods the lands they won. Then, Balder one bleak garth was thine, And one sweet brooklet's silver line; And Woden's croft did little gain From the stern father of the slain." Many of the names of these Viking and Anglo-Saxon gods are very familiar to us today and especially if today happens to be Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

These are needless to say the celebrated days of Woden, Thor and Freyja Barnard Castle: Horse Market: David Simpson BARNARD CASTLE THE TEESDALE CAPITAL Barnard Castle on the Durham side of the River Tees is the `capital' of Teesdale and is one of the most attractive and most historic towns in the North. Known affectionately to locals as `Barney', the town owes its origins to one Bernard Baliol who built a castle here in the twelfth century. Bernard's family were of Norman origin and of high influence. His father Guy De Baliol was the Lord of Verney, Dampierre, Harcourt and Bailleul and Baron of Teesdale, Gainford , Stokesley and Bywell on the Tyne. Descendants of Bernard included Edward and John Baliol, kings of Scotland and John Baliol, founder of Balliol College, Oxford. Today Bernard's Castle is a ruin, but a very pretty ruin situated on a high bank overlooking the Tees. The castle has witnessed plenty of history and has been a home to many famous historic characters, including Richard III, Henry VII, Warwick the Kingmaker, and the Prince Bishops of Durham .

Horsemarket, Galgate, Bridgegate, Newgate and Thorngate are the main streets of Barney and are lined by beautiful stone built houses, which give Barnard Castle its typical `Dales town' appearance. The term Gate was used by the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and later the Normans, but has nothing to do with a gateway. It is in fact an old word meaning road or street. The element `gate' can be found in the street names of historic towns and cities throughout the North. BUTTERMARKET, GAOL AND THE ROAD TO THE GALLOWS Barnard Castle's Market Place stands at the centre of the town and is dominated by an intriguing octagonal building called the `Market Cross' which was built by a Barnard Castle resident called Thomas Breaks in 1747. At various times in history this building has served the purpose of court, gaol, Town Hall and buttermarket. A weather vane sits on top of the building marked by two bullet holes reputedly made by a soldier and a gamekeeper in a competition of shooting abilities.

Market Cross, Barnard Castle : David Simpson At the northern end of the market place, a street called Galgate runs north-east following the ancient course of a Roman road that ran from Stainmore to join Dere Street near West Auckland. The name Galgate originates from post Roman times and is so called because it once led to the gallows where public hangings took place, (as at Gallowgate in Newcastle upon Tyne ). A MAGNIFICENT MUSEUM The market cross forms the centrepiece of a small roundabout at Barnard Castle from which a road called Newgate leads us into what is arguably Barnard Castle's biggest attraction; the Bowes Museum.Visitors are surprised to find this huge and magnificent building, in such a small north country town. Built in the style of a French chateau, it has one of the most impressive collections of pictures, ceramics, textiles, tapestries, clocks and costumes in the north of England. Its exhibits include a famous life size, silver swan, which can delicately lift a fish from a salver to swallow it. The Bowes Museum developed from the collection of John Bowes, the illegitimate son of the 10th Earl of Strathmore.

Along with his French actress wife Josephine, Bowes purchased most of the wonderful items displayed in the museum. Sadly both died before the completion of the building in 1892. See simplified Bowes family tree Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle photographed by David Simpson CHARLES DICKENS IN TEESDALE Charles Dickens visited Barnard Castle in February 1832 and stayed at the Kings Head in the market place, of which he wrote. "There is good ale at the King's Head. Say you know me and I am sure they will not charge you for it." While in the town Dickens visited the shop of a clockmaker called Thomas Humphreys, where a particular time-piece caught his attention. Enquiring further he found that the clock had been made by the clockmaker's son, William who unwittingly provided inspiration for the Dickens novelMaster Humphrey's Clock.. Dickens was visiting Teesdale to undertake research for his novel Nicholas Nickleby and the material for this book was collected at the nearby village of Bowes. Dotheby's Hall, the fictional school portrayed in the novel, was based on the Bowes Boys Academy and the building can still be seen in Bowes village today.

A proprietor,of this school, William Shaw was the model for the characterWackford Squeers.. His grave can be seen in a local churchyard. Thorngate, Barnard Castle : David Simpson THE LAST BATTLE OF ERIC BLOODAXE Bowes village, on the River Greta, three miles south west of Barnard Castle is the home of a ruined twelfth century castle and the site of a once important Roman fort called Lavatrae. The village stands at the entrance to the bleak and very lonely Stainmore Pass which has been one of the main Pennine crossing places for thousands of years. In 954 A.D Stainmore was the site of an important battle fought between the Viking army of King Eric Bloodaxe and their enemies which included the Angles of Northumbria north of the Tees.

"King Eric was treacherously killed in a certain lonely placewhich is called Stainmore with his son Haeric and his brother Ragnald, betrayed by Earl Oswulf..." Written at St Peter's, York by a Tenth Century Chronicler Eric Bloodaxe , a red-headed Norseman who had a Danish mother, was one of the most notorious of Viking kings with an heroic reputation for success in battle both in Norway and overseas. At Stainmore however, Eric's luck was to finally run out when his Viking army were heavily defeated. Bloodaxe lost his life along with five other Viking leaders who had loyally supported him in all battles as the Fagrskinna Saga records. "Eric had such a great army that five kings followed him because hewas a valiant man and a battle winner. He trusted in himself and his strength so much that he went far up country and everywhere he went with warfare." Oswulf of Bamburgh, an earl or High Reeve, who virtually ruled the Angle territory north of the River Tees, seems to have played an important part in Eric's downfall.

He had led Bloodaxe to believe that he recognised the Viking leader's overlordship of all Northumbria and that his northern earldom could be counted on to support the Vikings of York. In truth Oswulf was an enemy of Bloodaxe. He had plotted Eric's defeat and it was an agent of Oswulf called Maccus that finally killed King Eric. It could be argued that Eric had paid the price for the failure of his Viking ancestors to capture the Northumbrian lands north of the Tees in earlier centuries. The death of Bloodaxe brought about the downfall of the Viking Kingdom of York (Jorvik) and Viking power did not rise again until the time of King Cnut, who is also associated with the Teesdale area (See Raby below). The point where Bloodaxe met his death is marked by the ancient Rey Cross, which is situated just to the south of the A66 five miles west of Bowes. At the time of writing the cross has been removed for the construction of a new road. Rey cross once marked a boundary between Dark Age kingdoms on either side of the Pennines. The word `Rey' is Viking and simply means boundary.

Interestingly there are a number of other places along the northern side of the Tees valley that contain the Viking word Rey. A few miles to the south of Rey Cross is the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England, where perhaps the ghost of Eric Bloodaxe may be seen supping a pint of his favourite brew ?. In Viking mythology the death of a warrior was not so much the end of his life as the beginning of a journey to Valhalla `the hall of the Gods' - where only fallen warriors could reside. At the Battle of Stainmore we are told that Odin sent out his servants called the Valkyries who were the choosers of the slain to collect Bloodaxe and accompany him to Valhalla. It was therefore at Stainmore that Eric's journey to Valhalla began.. According to the mythology Eric would be warmly welcomed by Odin in Valhalla. A transaltion from an Old Norse poem written in honour of Eric Bloodaxe called the Eiriksmal tells us about Odin's preparation for a welcoming banquet .

"I dreamed I rose before day dawned, To prepare Valhalla For fallen warriors ; I woke the heroes, Bade them arise, Strew the benches with straw, And scour the vessels; Bade Valkyries bear wine Meet for a Prince.From the earth yonder I wait the coming Of highborn heroes; Glad now is my heart. " Two great warriors called Sigmund and Sinfjoli were sent to the gates of Valhalla to greet Eric at the end of his journey from Stainmore, causing Odin's son Bragi to question his father as to why he should single out Bloodaxe for special treatment when other kings had died in the battle. Odin's reply was swift in his praise for King Eric; "Because he has harried so many lands and borne a bloody sword" Bragi asked why Odin had not granted victory to such a fine warrior as Bloodaxe, but the great god explained that"It is safer for the gods to have such a hero in their own midst as a bulwark against the Fenris Wolf " The Fenris wolf was the wolf and son of Loki the god of strife and evil who was the arch enemy of Odin.

Mythology tells us that the upper and lower jaws of the Fenris wolf touched both heaven and earth. Odin evidently thought that Bloodaxe could protect him against such evil. PAINTINGS AND POETS ROKEBY AND THE RIVER GRETA The River Greta, a tributary of the Tees which flows through the Stainmore Pass and rises to the west of the Rey Cross derives its name from the Viking word `Griota' meaning a stony stream. It is interesting to note that there is a River Griota in Iceland, a country where considerable Viking settlement took place.From Stainmore the Greta makes a fourteen mile journey east before joining the Tees at Rokeby near Barnard Castle. Rokeby was once the site of a village of Viking origin but was later deserted following Scottish attacks upon Teesdale. Today Rokeby lives on only in the names of Rokeby Park and Rokeby Hall, the latter an 18th century building belonging to the Morritt family. The artists, J.M.W. Turner and J.S.

Cotman had a particular affection for this part of Teesdale and Turner's famous picture `The Meeting of the Waters' depicts the confluence of the Tees and Greta at Rokeby. Another artist, Velazquez is also associated with this area, his famous painting the`Rokeby Venus' was housed at Rokeby Hall between 1805 and 1905. Today it can be seen at the National Gallery in London.Across the River Greta from Rokeby Park are the remains of a fourteenth century fortified Pele Tower ( see Border families ), a reminder that even Teesdale in the very south of Northumbria, was arguably a part of the Scottish Border Country. SIR WALTER'S VIKING POEM In the early nineteenth century Sir Walter Scott was a frequent visitor to Rokeby Hall and named his lengthy poem, Rokeby after the area. The poem includes verses with strong references to Teesdale's Viking past,. Sir Walter was well aware of the Viking history of the Tees and in `Rokeby' he uses many an opportunity to remind us of the Nordic connection.

"When Denmark's raven soared on high, Triumphant through Northumbrian sky, Till, hovering near, her fatal croak Bade Reged's Britons dread the yoke; And the broad shadow of her wing Blackened each cataract and spring, Where Tees in tumult leaves his source, Thundering o'er Caldron and High Force. To Odin's son and Spifia's spouse, Near Startforth high they paid their vows, Remembered Thor's victorious fame, And gave the dell the Thunderer's name." This verse from `Rokeby' refers to the Viking sounding Thorsgill Beck, a stream which joins the River Tees to the west of Rokeby, close to Startforth near Barnard Castle. Raby Castle : David Simpson Raby Castle and the Rising of the North From Rokeby near Barnard Castle, the River Tees passes through Whorlton, Wycliffe and Ovington to Winston on Tees, where a road leads two miles north to Raby Castle and the adjacent village of Staindrop, both in County Durham.

Cnut (or Canute) the Dane (c 994 - 1035), Viking King of England, Denmark and Norway, the self appointed `Emperor of the North' owned a mansion and estate in the vicinity of Staindrop in the tenth century. It has been suggested that the mansion owned by Cnut was on the site of the nearby Raby Castle and some argue that it was from here that he ruled his kingdom and Empire. Raby Castle's historic `Bulmer Tower' is believed to incorporate Cnut's mansion. Cnut `the Great' was the son of Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark and was very much a Viking in the war-like way he took control of England, despite the fact that he had been baptised and claimed to be a practising Christian. The name of Raby is Viking-Danish in origin and means `settlement on the boundary mark' - perhaps a boundary between Angle, Danish and Norse settled districts ?.

Raby lies on the course of an old Roman road that leads to Stainmore and Rey Cross - another boundary marker.Staindrop, which is historically the estate village for Raby also has a Danish name deriving from`Steinndrup' meaning `stony valley' - or perhaps `the valley of Stein', a common Viking personal name. Place names containing the Viking element Stain are very common along the Tees valley but virtually absent further to the north.Raby Castle and the lands around Staindrop village were returned to the Northumbrian Bishops of Durham by King Cnut in the eleventh century as a gesture of goodwill to the Angles of the north. These lands like many others along the Tees valley had been taken from the Northumbrians by Cnut's Viking ancestors. Cnut may have wished to maintain good relations with Northumbria north of the Tees, because of its useful role as a `border region' which could defend his kingdom from the threat of the raiding Scots.

RABY AND THE RISING OF THE NORTH Raby, one of the best medieval castles in northern England, in early times associated with Cnut, passed later into the hands of the influential Norman family called the Nevilles who were the most important barons in the Bishopric of Durham from the twelfth century onwards.The famous Rising of the North was plotted by the Nevilles at Raby in 1569, with the help of the equally powerful Percy family of Northumberland. Support for this rising came from all parts of the North East; Rising of the North Now was the North in arms: they shine In warlike trim from Tweed to Tyne, At Percy's voice : and Neville Sees His followers gathering in from Tees, From Wear and all the little rills Concealed among the forked hills- Seven hundred knights Retainers all Of Neville at their master's call Had sate together at Raby Hall. William Wordsworth :From 'The White Doe of Rylston'. The Rising was an attempt to replace Elizabeth I with her cousin the catholic Mary Queen of Scots, at a time when the people of northern England were mostly of the Catholic faith.

Unfortunately for the Nevilles the Rising failed and Raby was confiscated from the family by the Crown along with their other great properties at Barnard Castle and Brancepeth . RABY'S WHITEWASHED HOUSES In 1626 Raby became the seat of the Vanes, Earls of Darlington and Dukes of Cleveland and the present owner, Lord Barnard is a member of this family. He is the owner of the vast Raby Estate which extends over a large area of south Durham. Farmhouses and cottages belonging to this estate can be found throughout the northern side of Teesdale and are easily identified by their attractive whitewashed exteriors. Whitewashing goes back to the days when a Duke of Cleveland became stranded in a storm while out hunting in Teesdale. He was refused shelter at a local farmhouse which he had mistaken for one of his own properties.

The Duke was determined not to suffer such a humiliation ever again and ordered that from that day on, all buildings belonging to his estate were to be painted white for identification.Raby Castle is said to be haunted by three ghosts, they are the headless Henry Vane the Younger, Sir Charles Neville and the First lady Barnard, who is known as `Old Hell Cat'. VIKING SCULPTURES FROM GAINFORD Gainford on Tees, near Winston to the south east of Raby was in Anglo-Saxon times the centre of an important estate belonging to the Northumbrian Congregation of St. Cuthbert . In the later Dark Ages this area was taken by the Vikings, whose settlement in the area is indicated by the names of the nearby villages of Selaby, Eppleby and Killerby. Selaby was the village where sallow grew, Eppleby the place where apples grew and Killerby was the village of someone called Kilvert. The name Kilvert is thought to be an Old Norse name meaning `One who defends the prow of a ship'.Archaeologists have found a number of Viking sculptures at Gainford and some examples of these are on display at the Monk's Dormitory of Durham cathedral.

Many of the sculptures found at Gainford show both Northumbrian and Viking influence, suggesting that the vale of the Tees was an area where these two cultures intermixed. Indeed it is known that despite the Viking settlement, Angle Northumbrians continued to be important land owners along the banks of the Tees in Viking times. OLD SPA VILLAGE Gainford is arguably the most attractive village in County Durham and has long been a popular place of retirement for residents of nearby Darlington. The origins of its name are disputed, though there is a legend that there was once a ford on the river and that the ownership of this ford was disputed by the residents on either side of the Tees. In the end a battle was fought in which the residents of the Durham side of the river gained the ford- hence Gainford. On the Yorkshire side of the river we find the site of the deserted village of Barforth or Barford. Its name is said to be a reminder of an attempt by its residents to barricade the ford during the battle with Gainford . In the nineteenth century Gainford village had its own spa. Today its main features are an unspoilt village green, a Jacobean hall and an attractive Georgian street called High Row.

The village church of St Mary's, Gainford is also of interest, it is on the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery built by Bishop Ecgred of Lindisfarne in the early 9th century and is said to be the resting place of a Northumbrian chieftain called Ida or Eda. In more recent times the church became famed in local folklore as the place where a vicar married a Pigg, christened a Lamb and buried a Hogg all in the same week ! PIERCEBRIDGE - THE FIRST `GRANDFATHER CLOCK' My Grandfather's Clock was too tall for the shelf So it stood ninety years on the floor. Piercebridge, on the north bank of the River Tees, two miles downstream from Gainford is in County Durham but its Hotel `The George' is across the river in Yorkshire. The hotel is famed as the home of the clock which inspired a visiting American composer called Henry Clay Work to write his famous song `My Grandfather's Clock ' (1878), from which all long case clocks now take their name. The clock is notable in that it stopped at the very moment of its owner's death and never worked again.

It wrang an alarm in the dead of the night, an alarm that for years had been dumb And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight, that his hour of departure had come. Still the clock kept the time with a soft and muffled chime as we silently stood by its side. But it Stopped, Short,never to go again When the old man died. PIERCEBRIDGE ; ROMANS AND BRIGANTES Piercebridge is situated at the point where the old Roman road called Dere Street crossed the River Tees. This road ran north from the Roman military headquarters at York well up into Tweeddale. The village green at Piercebridge marks the site of a Roman fort called MAGAE which stood on the road guarding the crossing of the Tees.This fort at Piercebridge will have been of strategic importance as the fierce Ancient British tribe called the Brigantes , were closely associated with this area. The Brigantes were the largest tribe in Roman Britain with territory extending over large areas of what are now Yorkshire, Durham, Cumbria and southern Northumberland. Celtic or Welsh speaking tribes like the Brigantes were the native inhabitants of Britain many centuries before Anglo-Saxons or Vikings made Britain their home.

South west of Piercebridge can be seen one of the most significant remains associated with the Brigantes at a place called Stanwick St John. Here we find the ancient earthworks of a Brigantian camp from which the tribe fought the Romans at the Battle of Scotch Corner in A.D. 71. ORIGINS OF THE NAME `TEES' Between Roman and Anglo Saxon times the valley of the River Tees around Piercebridge is thought to have formed the central plain of an Ancient British kingdom called Catraeth whose people would have been the descendants of the Brigantes. In fact the name of the River Tees dates from the time of the Ancient Britons, who spoke a language similar to modern day Welsh. The name Tees is related to the Welsh `Tes' meaning `sunshine or heat'. Tees probably means `boiling or surging river'. East of Piercebridge the Tees, ironically is neither boiling nor surging as it lethargically meanders its way towards the outskirts of Darlington, where it is crossed by the A1(M) Motorway. There are a number of Viking place names in this area, examples of which are Cleasby, Jolby, Brettanby and Ulnaby.

Brettanby is a farm and manor near Scotch Corner and its name may be a Viking reference to the presence of Ancient Britons in the area. Ulnaby is a deserted medieval village on the Ulnaby Beck, a northern tributary of the Tees. River Tees - Part 1 - Cauldron Snout - YouTube River Tees - Part 1 - Cauldron Snout Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Mar 20, 2007 The river Tees separates Yorkshire from County Durham. We begin at Cow Green reservoir which holds back the infant Tees. In rainy weather the longest waterfall in England approaches its former glory of the days before the Dam. Category Waterfalls Waterfalls Source for dimension data.

Baseseachic Falls, Mexico (245m, 804 feet drop) "Lonely Planet Mexico" (local tourist info claimed this is the second highest waterfall in the world) Iguazu Falls, at the intersection of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay Not yet been there Angel Falls, Venezuela. The highest waterfall in the world Niagara Falls on the border between Canada and the USA Sipi Falls in the foothills of Mount Elgon, Uganda Dettifoss, Europe's most powerfall waterfall, Iceland (44m, 144 feet high, 500 cubic metres water per second) Lonely Planet Iceland, Greenland and Faroe Islands Other Icelandic waterfalls - Hfragilfoss, Skogafoss, Seljalandsofoss, Svartifoss, Godafoss and Gullfoss Diyaluma Falls, the highest in Sri Lanka dropping 694 feet Infoplease.com's Highest Waterfalls of the world All this made me wonder what Britain's highest waterfall was. And England's etc. So I found some stuff and pasted it below. Most of the websites that I originally found this material on have gone; otherwise, they're still listed...

Typically, as in the case for the oldest pub in Britain, there is more than one claim for the highest waterfall. Sometimes, this is due to over-zealous marketing on the part of locals hoping to attract gullible tourists to the area. More often, it is a confusion or an obfuscation over the definition of highest waterfall. For instance, should the highest waterfall form a single drop or do we allow the waterfall to fall over one or more levels? Could we, in fact, count a whole cascade of several drops as a single waterfall? As a result the location of the highest waterfall in England is a bit of a minefield but I have attempted to get to the bottom of it below. Eas a'Chual Aluinn, KYLESKU Continuing south on the A838, you will see the many islands dotted in Eddrachillis Bay and then pass through the Duartmore Forest. Towered over by the mountains, the new bridge at Kylesku replaces an old ferry at this point.

Boat trips leave at 11am and 2pm during the summer to take you up Loch Glencoul to see Eas a'Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain (nearly 200 metres). Alternatively you can hike to see it - but at two hours' walk over rough terrain to get there, this is really only for the experienced hiker. Even if you have missed the boat, it is still worth following the signs from the main road to go down to the pier where there is a hotel and public toilets. You can get a nice view up Loch Glendhu. Pistyll Rhaeadr 240 feet Pistyll Rhaeadr, near Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, has become the 1000th Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wales. The Countryside Council for Wales notified the spectacular waterfall for its particular geomorphological importance. . The 240 foot high waterfall is the highest in Wales and marks an abrupt change from an upland mountain torrent flowing through boulders and peat, to a lowland meandering stream.

The falls show spectacular plunge pools and a natural arch, a product of its different rock types and structure. Above Pistyll Rhaeadr the river is known as Afon Disgynfa and below as Afon Rhaeadr. Highest Waterfall in England It is unfortunate that the highest waterfall in England is actually underground where it can't really be seen. For those wanting to visit a dramatic, classic waterfall, I would suggest Hardraw Force is your best bet. No-one would dispute that this is a waterfall and it's certainly the highest straight-down job. Waterfall Canonteign Falls 220 feet Canonteign is a joy to visit in any season, with its waterfalls, lakes and abundant wildlife. This is Devon at its best - wild and beautiful, unspoilt by the passing of time. Lady Exmouth Falls is England's highest waterfall with a sheer drop of 220 ft. Clampitt Falls and Secret Garden Falls must also be seen.

Richard Bannister, 2002: I went to Canonteign falls with high expectations but they're a bit of a sham: a small stream has been > diverted over a 70 degree cliff, there is even a metal sill to take the flow a couple of feet clear and give it some freefall. It then bounces down merrily but can hardly be 220 feet. Brian Hudson. Brisbane, Australia, 2004: I was interested in your waterfalls findings, especially the information about Canonteign. I always suspected that this was not a natural fall. Scale Force, Lake District Richard Bannister: Much better claims (and truly vertical) come from Scale Force in the Lake District, around 100 feet sheer. [Ed. In fact it has a single drop of 120 feet and a couple of others making a total of 170 feet high. However, the single drop is not sheer and is more of a "tumble"] The highest waterfall in England, above ground. Hardraw Force, N.

Yorkshire Richard Bannister: and, the pick of them all in England, Hawdraw force in N.Yorkshire, around 100 feet sheer. [Ed. this is the highest single drop in England that is above ground...] The highest sheer waterfall in England, above ground. Cauldron Snout Cauldron Snout on the Tees gets the Guiness Book's vote, it descends 150 feet but covers probably twice that distance horizontally between falls. Wikipedia reckons it is the "longest waterfall" in England which is a quite different record, methinks. This should immediately raise an eyebrow and indeed, if the pictures are studies, it can be seen that Cauldron Snout is better described as a Cascade, rather than a waterfall. Cautley Spout Wikipedia reckons this is the highest waterfall in England viz: (2008) "The broken cascade of falls tumbles 580 feet (175 m) down a cliff face at the head of a wild and bleak glacial valley that comes down from a high plateau called The Calf". [Ed. Personally, I don't count this as a waterfall.

It is a record holder but it would be better to call it the highest cascade in England".. The highest cascade in England. Malham Cove Richard Bannister: Very rarely and in heavy rain , Malham Cove in Yorkshire takes the biscuit with a superb vertical 300 footer. [Ed: This is a bit of a cheat. Malham Cove can not really be described as a waterfall - at least not in this geological age...]. Gaping Ghyll Brian Hudson. Brisbane, Australia, 2004: I believe that the highest unbroken waterfall in England is that which is formed by the stream which drops vertically into Gaping Ghyll, a pot-hole near Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales. [Ed. Yes from all references found, this is the biggest single drop waterfall in England]. The highest waterfall in England. Things to do in County Durham | Days Out | Places to Visit You are here: Counties -> Things to do in County Durham Things to do in County Durham Page Contents Video County Durham in the north east of England contains archaeological evidence dating to Roman times.

The County is still known as the 'Land of the Prince Bishops' referring to the period in history when the Bishops of Durham were granted the right to rule this part of northern England, creating their own armies, holding their own courts, minting their own money and imposing their own taxes. Raby Castle Durham You can find County Durham Tourist Information in the Historic County Town, Durham . Situated above the River Wear, the town is dominated by its magnificent Cathedral and Castle, and is now a World Heritage Site. To the south is the attractive market town of Bishop Auckland , the country seat of the Bishops of Durham since the 12th century. Durham Cathedral Durham Dales Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle Tourism in County Durham often begins in the Durham Dales in the west of the County, one of Britain's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Don't miss in Barnard Castle , a market town which is a well situated base for exploring the upper dales. Visit the Bowes Museum, an impressive mansion in the style of a French chateau, which houses one of the finest collections of European art, ceramics and furniture. A few miles to the north is Raby Castle , whose history dates back nearly 1000 years.

Teesdale Teesdale is situated on the east side of the Pennine Hills and is home to England's biggest waterfall, High Force - at 70 feet it is a renowned feature of rugged upper Teesdale. High Force is also situated adjacent to one of the most attractive sections of the Pennine Way . Peninne Way, Grindsbrook A short distance west is England's longest waterfall Cauldron Snout - 200 feet of Tees water creates a spectacular sight. Teesdale has many way-marked walks by the river, through woodland and interesting villages. Cyclists are catered for with National Byway signposts to indicate quiet country lanes, safe for cycling. Signpost for Peninne Way Between Teesdale and Weardale is the 5,000 acre Hamsterley Forest managed by the Forestry Commission. The beautiful mixed forest is home to a variety of wildlife, and has several way marked walks and cycle routes, car parks, a play-park, and picnic areas. The visitor centre is worth visiting and holds many interesting events.

Weardale Weardale was the ancient hunting ground of the Prince Bishops, and later a centre of the mining industry, for coal, iron ore, limestone and slate. The Lead Mining Museum at Killhope tells the story of the lead mining industry during the boom years in the 19th century. It is the best preserved lead mining site in Britain, and centres on the reconstructed Victorian Park Level Mine, and Park Level Mill with its huge working water wheel. Here you can take a trip down the mine, and above ground you can see how the miners lived. Weardale has wonderful scenery and has several circular walks as well as the 73 mile Weardale Way, which follows the River Wear from Monkwearmouth to Wear Head . The stone built towns and villages in this area have a unique character and are worth visiting. At the historic market town of Stanhope , in the former grounds of Stanhope Castle is the Durham Dales Centre, with an award-winning visitor Centre. River View The River Derwent running through north County Durham, has created verdant river valleys, contrasting with rocky crags and moorland. Derwent Reservoir is popular for angling and sailing and home to a variety of wild fowl.

Ancient woodland in the north of the County offers shelter to the endangered Red Squirrel. Beamish One of England's most popular attractions Beamish Open Air Museum , is situated near Stanley and makes a great day out for all the family. World's Oldest Railway Bridge Nearby is Causy Arch, the world's oldest railway bridge still in existence. A single span bridge, the first of its kind to be built, it stands over 80 feet high above Beamish Burn - it was constructed in 1725 and is over 100 feet long. Visitors to the bridge can enjoy a trip on the world's oldest railway Tanfield Railway, opened in 1725 - its original purpose was to carry coal from nearby collieries to the River Tyne. View from Cathedral Tower Southern Region The southern region of County Durham is both agricultural and industrial. Attractive towns and villages such as Heighington, with its picturesque village green and Sedgefield with its land mark St Edmunds Church, and the National Hunt racecourse. Old Fulling Mill, Durham University Aycliffe village is another gem with a delightful village green surrounded by historic houses.

Shildon is the railway town from where George Stephenson's "Locomotion" took the inaugural run of Stockton to Darlington Railway. Visitors to Shildon can visit the attraction "Locomotion", which houses many engines from the National Railway Museum's collection. Regeneration The east of County Durham is undergoing extensive regeneration. 'Turning the Tide' is an innovative project committed to cleaning up the area after hundreds of years of coal mining. Today you will find sandy beaches at Seaham and Crimdon. You can walk the 11 mile Durham coastal footpath, enjoying fine views. Grassland meadows, wooded valleys and wildlife habitats have been restored and east County Durham has been designated a Heritage Coast. Waterfall on River Tees With so much to offer - the ancient 'Land of the Prince Bishops' has everything you need for a wonderful holiday. About - River Tees, available for all to enjoy.

About ­ About Admin 2015-10-10T11:23:48+00:00 The River Tees drains an area of 710 square miles (1834 square km) and has a number of tributaries including the River Greta, River Lune, River Balder, River Leven and River Skerne. Before the reorganisation of the historic English counties, the river formed the boundary between County Durham and Yorkshire. In its lower reaches it now forms the boundary between the ceremonial counties of County Durham and North Yorkshire, while in the highest part of its course it forms the boundary between the historic counties of Westmorland and Durham. The head of the valley, whose upper portion is known as Teesdale, has a desolate grandeur, surrounded by moorland and hills, some exceeding 2,500 feet (762 m). This area is part of the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The source of the river at Teeshead just below Cross Fell lies at an elevation of approximately 2,401 feet (732 m).

It flows east-north-east through an area of shake holes through Carboniferous Limestone. Below Viewing Hill, it turns south to the Cow Green Reservoir constructed to store water to be released in dry conditions to support industrial need for water on Teesside. Emerging from the reservoir at Cauldron Snout the river traverses a series of hard black basalt rocks, and dolerite that intrude through the softer limestone, in a succession of falls or rapids. From this point downstream the Tees forms the boundary between the traditional counties of Durham and Yorkshire almost without a break, although since 1974 much of it lies wholly in Durham. The dale widens below Cauldron Snout, and trees appear, contrasting with the broken rocks where the water descends over High Force. After a short turn northwards, the river continues to meander south-easterly. Close to where the B6277 road begins to runs parallel to the river is the 30 metres (98 ft) High Force waterfall. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream is the smaller Low Force waterfall.

The confluence of the River Greta and the River Tees The scenery becomes gentler and more picturesque as the river descends past Middleton-in-Teesdale (Durham). This locality has lead and ironstone resources. Just to the east of Middleton-in-Teesdale, the River Lune joins the Tees. After passing the village of Romaldkirk to the west, the river is joined by the River Balder at Cotherstone. The ancient town of Barnard Castle, Egglestone Abbey, and Rokeby Park, well known through Sir Walter Scott’s poem, are all passed. At Rokeby the Tees is joined by the River Greta. From the area near Eggleston, the river is crossing over millstone grit. From here the valley begins to open out, and traverses the rich plain east and south of Darlington in large meandering curves. The course of the valley down to here has been generally east-south-east, but it now turns north-east near the village of Whorlton. Passing Ovington and Winston it runs parallel to the A67 south-east past Gainford andPiercebridge to Darlington, passing under the A1 and A66.

The section from Piercebridge to Hurworth is flowing over magnesian limestone. It is at Croft-on-Tees that the River Skerne joins the Tees. The river now flows south past Croft-on-Tees before swinging northwards past Hurworth-on-Tees. A series of large meanders takes the course past Neasham, Low Dinsdale and Sockburn to Middleton St George. In the lower reaches of the river valley the water is flowing over bunter sandstone and pebble beds. Just past Yarm, the River Leven joins the Tees, before passing the settlements of Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby-on-Tees. Now nearing the sea, the Tees becomes an important commercial waterway, with the ports of Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough on its banks. It passes through the Tees Barrage between these ports, turning tidal downstream from the barrage. Teesport is built on reclaimed land on the south side of the Tees estuary below Middlesbrough.

Question: England's longest waterfall, Cauldron Snout, lies on which river?
Answer: River Tees