This walk through history follows the Weardale Way out of Stanhope where we head west towards Eastgate, then trace the Rookhope Burn north, until we reach Rookhope itself. Climbing up onto the hills, we eventually reach our highest point of 541metres at Bolt’s Law - one of the prominent hills situated on the moorland ridge dividing Weardale and Derwentdale.
From here, we follow the Weatherhill and Rookhope railway path, before dropping down into the valley and then rising up onto the moors, picking up a path through woodland and back down to Stanhope.
A true dales walk in the Wear Valley, rising up to the trig at Bolt’s Law, this is a challenging but rewarding hike with plenty of wildlife on and around the moors. There is much evidence of Weardale’s lead mining and railway heritage throughout the walk, making it a fascinating reminder of how things used to be.
