A First Visit to the Washburn Valley – The Six Reservoirs Walk
Filed under: OtherDistance: 13 miles
Start: Stainburn Forest Car Park, West of Beckwithshaw. (SE 237523)
Click to view start position on Google Maps
Map : OS Explorer 297 – Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
We had planned to go on Alnwick Moor but a weather forecast promising rain there by 3:00pm put paid to that so it was off to our meeting place at Chester-le-Street and heading south where the forecast was for a fine day. Definitely getting soft in our advancing years!
On arrival a decision had been made. “We will do the other walk you suggested last week as it is the end of the light nights this weekend. We’ll go to the Washburn Valley and walk to Dob Park pack horse bridge”. This was the real motivation as it was the only one of 40 in the North Riding that l had not walked or cycled to. They are all listed in Ernest Hinchcliffe’s book “The Packhorse Bridges of England” published by Cicerone. It was a fast run down the A1 through Ripon and Killinghall to Stainburn Forest car park to the west of Beckwithshaw where we started.
Leaving the car park it was a short distance on the road towards Bland Hill in a north-west direction and after the end of the forest we took the stile over to Little Almscliffe. Almscliffe Crag a few miles to the south-east is a local climbers haunt well known to viewers of Emmerdale as it features on the credits at the start. From Little Almscliffe there are two routes west and it order to keep our fine distant views we took the one round the edge of the forest where you only have a short distance surrounded by trees at Sandwith Moor. Apart from distant views across the Vale of York , much nearer are the white balls of the listening centre of Menwith Hill to the north.
Looking up to Little Almscliffe. Photo by Frank Firth (http://www.yorkshirewalks.org)
Eventually you reach the road south of Bratt Farm. Instead of walking on the road there is a path inside the wall heading south and although this is not a Right of Way, I suggest you take it as the traffic on the road is travelling quite fast. At the end of the wall, exit by the corner taking care not to damage the wall. Immediately in front of you is a footpath sign where the track is taken into Norwood Plantation heading uphill towards the tower. Ignore the forest track off to the left after about half a mile and stay on the path heading steeply downhill to the edge of the forest at a clearing, where you head right down to the road emerging next to another good car park. A short distance of road walking follows but look out for a path, with a stile paid for by the local Rambler’s Association ,which cuts off the bend (as well as keeping you off the road) and heads due south to regain the road at a stile. It is now necessary to walk down the road for half a mile passing Norwood Hall to arrive at the viaduct crossing Lindley Wood Reservoir, which is crossed. At the far end turn immediately right (north) on a clear track. There is a nice seat here, in the local style, which makes a convenient coffee break.
The track has the River Washburn on your right for half a mile before you cross a bridge and continuing in the same direction with the river now on your left you come to a ford and Dob Park Bridge. There is a wealth of birdlife around here and our highlight was a buzzard being mobbed by a kestrel, although there were also several flocks of mixed finches and about 40 geese overhead. Dob Park Bridge is on a pack horse route from the Wharfe at Otley to Summerbridge in Nidderdale. The bridge dates from 1738 and is built in sandstone with a span of 48ft and a width of 4ft 7 inches. The old cobbled roadway has survived. Altogether an attractive spot.
Our route continues upriver with the river now back on your right and crosses over Snowdon Beck which can be a little wet. No problems at Timble Beck further on as there is a fine footbridge. There are a plethora of paths here and we continued on a permissive path to reach a reservoir access road of Yorkshire Water next to a bridge over the Washburn. This access road is followed north, gradually climbing up to the top of Swinsty Dam where you tend to meet people on a walk around the reservoir. Swinsty Reservoir is a fine place surrounded by woods, many of which are beech and we had been lucky in choosing October to do this walk as the beech trees were a beautiful golden colour. Strangely neither Clive or Alan or myself with over 150 years of walking between us had ever been in the Washburn Valley which goes to show that there are always new places to explore!
Access path at Swinsty Reservoir - photo by Frank Firth (http://www.yorkshirewalks.org)
You immediately pass by Swinsty Hall on your left which has recently been the subject of a footpath dispute and illegal closure of a path. Hopefully this is now resolved. At the north end of the lake there is another excellent car park on the west bank (Fewston Car Park). The dam is crossed safely on a path alongside the road and at the end look out for the permissive path alongside the water edge. This is a beauty, well appreciated by the locals, several of whom have donated seats. Towards a mile down the lake you return to the road at a picnic spot and cross over a small inlet. At the end take the footpath on the left up this inlet which is waymarked as a Dales Way Link from Harrogate. The Dales Way starts at Ilkley and is possibly the best week’s walk in the country but it is good to approach it from one of the links from Harrogate, Leeds or Bradford. The Leeds one to me was surprisingly good after Meanwood and after Eccup (where there is a good pub) it joins up with the Ebor Way over The Chevin to reach Ilkley.
Keep on this link to Bramlane on the Darley to Otley road. Here we leave the Dales Link and go south for a short distance to Watsons Lane where we take the second path on the left to Brown Banks. Take care as the first path is not waymarked on the road. Leaving the road a wall is followed on your right to the bottom of the field and the wall is then crossed and a clear line taken to Brown Bank ascending about 50 stairs to the farm. Go through the gate at the top of the stairs, turn right and then immediately left past the farm. These farms belong to the Water Authority and are well maintained with good paths, stiles and generally well waymarked. Following the path north-east you pass in front of East End Manor and to Haverah Park Top which is an abandoned farm. However here is a real gem called John o’ Gaunts Castle which was built here in 1327 by Edward III, who in 1372 granted it and Knaresborough to his son John o’ Gaunt who had it until 1399. The building was moated and had a central tower.
All that is left of John o' Gaunts Castle. Photo by Frank Firth (http://www.yorkshirewalks.org)
It is now downhill to the two reservoirs at Beaver Dyke separated by a small dam, which is crossed to the north bank and at the end you regain the Dales Way Link on a fine path alongside the water. At the dam we stayed on the track which descends down the side of the big earth dam, before crossing the beck and heading south on a tarmac road which is the access to Scargill Reservoir. The woods here were very attractive and full of pheasants. Eventually after a climb up you come to the top of the dam of Scargill Reservoir which is a quiet place, especially when compared to Swinsty, and the way ahead is clear up to the road. On the way you pass several large huts which we thought may have been a POW site during WW2. Howver it appears that they are part of Leeds University Physics Dept. The start of the walk can be seen off to your right and on reaching the road it is a short distance to your right back to the start where we were rewarded with a close up view of a stonechat!
The work of the Yorkshire Water Authority in this area is to be highly commended as they certainly add to the charm of the area with their facilities and good car parking.
Crossing the dam of Beaver Dyke Reservoir. Photo by Frank Firth (http://www.yorkshirewalks.org)
The photos used on this blog entry are published with kind permission from Frank Firth who runs the excellent Yorkshire Walks website. I would highly recommend a visit to this website, full of excellent walks and photographs around Yorkshire. The photos for this entry were taken from Route 340.
Rookhope to Westgate (Weardale Way)
Filed under: Weardale WayDistance: 12 miles
Start: Rookhope Village, County Durham (NY 937428)
Click to view start position on Google Maps
Map : OS 87 – Hexham & Haltwhistle
This section of the Weardale Way is the last remaining section to be completed on my walks and means that we have walked the whole of the route from the A19 roadbridge at Hylton to just short of the Killhope Mine.
The reason that this section is last, is that until the advent of the Open Access incorporated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act there was no satisfactory return route. We do descend through easy open access country back down to the Rookhope Valley but we are on a Right on Way. However there is now a footpath back for most of the way to Rookhope recently created from funds from the Mineral Valleys Project. This is a £5 million grant to improve the environment of the mineral valleys to the west of Co. Durham and evidence of this is abundant in Rookhope. The improved pavements and street furniture in places like Frosterley are all part of the scheme.
Rookhope is an old mining village with a long history. There is evidence that the Romans were active hereabouts. There was a famous skirmish here in 1569. During the Rising of the North, when the local men had been called away to defend Barnard Castle against pro Catholic rebels there was a raid on Rookhope by Border Reivers who stole 600 sheep. The raiders were intercepted on Nookton Fell and four of the Reivers were killed and eleven captured. Such events were not uncommon in the region but this one has remained alive due to the incident being recorded in a 24 verse ballad called the Rookhope Ryde.
As mentioned earlier there was no satisfactory return route and indeed the Weardale Way has had to leave the main Weardale route as there is no path between Eastgate and Westgate. The probable reason for this is this area was a hunting park and the Bishop of Durham excluded any settlement in the area. The village names note the two entrances to the park.
We leave the village just to the north of the pub and cross the burn following the new signs erected under the Mineral Valleys Project and after a brief loop on a lesser walked path emerge onto an old railway line. The railways in this area are interesting. The original line was the Stanhope and Tyne Railway which transported stone, iron ore and lead to the coalfields and reached Stanhope by the Crawleyside Incline. Indeed Stanhope was reached by this route well before the easier route up the Valley. The Weardale Iron Company then built from Rookhope to the Stanhope Railway, connecting at Parkhead before eventually going to Tow Law – this was the highest standard gauge ever built in the UK where it contours Bolts Law. This was built in 1847 and in 1850 they built a further extension to Westgate via Smailsburn and Northgate, to arrive at Scutters Hill and then down a 1 in 5 incline to Westgate. This is the route that we follow.
There are fine views to the south on this section looking over to Westernhope Burn and then Chapel Fell. The section between Smailsburn and Northgate was operated by a water balance system. We then reach Park Burn where the bridge was removed as has much of Park Plantation. The route to here was completed in 1854. The Boltslaw section was closed in 1941 and as a consequence Rookhope was cut off from the rail network. The problem was solved by erecting an aerial ropeway down the valley from Rookhope to Eastgate.
Before Chesterhouse there has been a diversion in the route of the Weardale Way to eliminate roadwalking (March 2007) and the route goes through Warden Hill and along the valley floor, just to the north of the main road, to arrive at Westgate past the side of the church of St Andrew built in 1869.
We proceed across the road and follow the path up Middlehope Burn. This is a fine woodland walk and in Spring is particularly interesting for its great flora which has led to its designation as a SSSI. We pass a beautiful waterfall where the burn descends over slatey sandstone, the subsequent falls being over limestone and in a short distance reach the bousesteads where the individual teams stored their winnings. A short distance further we reach the site of Slit Mine where there are remains of the pit for the waterwheel and the washing floors. On the right note the entrance to Whites Level which was an access to the mine where ponies could be taken in. We continue northwards past disused mine workings and turn up to the open country access road just before Whitley Hills. These roads were created following the enclosures of the lower ground to give access to the higher fells.
A steady pull up (the only one on the walk) takes us to Waltons Allotments and straight over, descending to Wolfscleugh. All of this area bears evidence of the extensive mining in the area and Rispey Mill, which we go through, was the original smelt mill built in the 1600s. A larger one was built in 1700 and served until 1740 when it was replaced by the new smeltmill at Lintzgarth nearer Rookhope built in 1737. The mines here were all owned by the Blackett family until 1883 when they were taken over by the Weardale Lead Company. Prior to the railways the lead had been transported by packhorse to Gateshead on routes such as the Carriers Way and other routes where now only the names of Pack Horse Inns indicate the route taken.
A short section of roadwalking takes us to Lintzgarth and here we cross the river to pick up the new path to Rookhope. The arch over the burn is a remnant of the viaduct that carried the flue and its further course can be traced easily up the hill proceeding in a north-west direction. This whole area was heavily mined and the Boltsburn Mine where flats were discovered under the main vein made this one of the richest mines in England in the early 20th century. The area remained active until quite recently when large quantities of Flourspar were mined at Groverake.
If you feel a shade lighter when you return you are correct as Rookhope has the lowest gravity of anywhere in England. The reason for this was thought to be the presence of bulk granite, which is lighter than most rocks and this was verified quite recently when a borehole reaching down 600 metres (1900ft) found a massive amont of granite under the whole area.
The whole of this area is great for birdlife with many curlew and peewit present. Both of these species are in decline nationally. Wheatear and Meadow Pipits are common as well as the occasional Snipe, and a Merlin was seen during the our last visit.
Much of the information given in this handout is from “The North Pennines: Landscape and Legends” by Iain Brown which l have previously recommended on other walks and which was published in 2006 by Summary House Publications of Woodland, Co.Durham, DL13 5HR.
Sanctuary Way Stage 1 – Whickham to Beamish
Filed under: Sanctuary WayDistance: 12 miles
Start: Eden Place Picnic Site, Beamish
Click to view start position on Google Maps
As stated in the preamble, the Sanctuary Way is a linear walk from Whickham to Durham, with most of it in County Durham. Indeed prior to the Local Government Reorganisation it was all in County Durham and Whickham Church at the start is in the Diocese of Durham. Todays walk is being done back to front i.e. from south to north starting at Eden Place Picnic Site.
The village of Beamish is a relatively new creation being formed in 1873. Formerly Beamish referred to the lands surrounding Beamish Hall and was a parish of Tanfield. The new Beamish parish consisted of Stanley, Shield Row, Kip Hill, Ox Hill, East Kyo, East Stanley and Beamish Stables. At this time the population was expanding rapidly due to the opening of three coal mines. The coal seams in this area can be up to 40 feet thick and mines were opened in Stanley in 1833, Air Pit in 1849 and the Beamish Mary (whose name is now preserved in the nearby pub name) in 1883. The Beamish Mary mine lasted until 1960. There was a fourth colliery known as Chophill or Beamish No 2 and a row of houses were built to house some of the miners. This was called Eden Row and was situated close to the Stanhope and Tyne Railway. Eden Place, where you are now standing, and Eden Square were then built a little further to the north and the village consisted of 70 houses, a school and a chapel. These houses were built by the coal-owner James Joicey and were started in 1878 and the village lasted until recent times when it was demolished to make room for the new road from Consett to Chester-le-Street.
We leave the car park to the west on the Great North Forest Trail through Hellhole Wood which is owned by the Woodland Trust, with glimpses of Beamish Park Golf Club to the right. At Carricks Hill Wood we look carefully for a split in the path and take the one downhill crossing the River Team to arrive in the Beamish Burn Picnic Park. This is a pleasant spot and the wall to the east is the wall separating you from the grounds of Beamish Hall. Note here the hearths in the wall which were lit to protect delicate plants on the other side in the garden when the weather was cold. Beamish Hall was owned in the past by a coal-owning family called the Shaftos, who also owned Whitworth Hall near Spennymoor (visited on the Weardale Way walk from Page Bank to Bishop Auckland). The family are remembered by the song Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.The other inhabitants were the Eden family from whom was descended Sir Anthony Eden, the Prime Minister in the 1950s.
Those wanting an extra mile on the walk can stay on the Great North Forest Trail which is well marked and go through Causey Gill to Causey Arch Picnic Site and see the famous Causey Arch, which is the oldest railway bridge in the world.
Bill (centre) leads the walk!
We instead walk east along the road towards Beamish Hall. This is now an excellent hotel with good food and a brewery on site which is well recommended. No time today however as we turn north up the bridleway called Coppy Lane to walk up to Beamishburn Road near the old school. This was the original road to Stanley. We turn left for a short distance and then right crossing the A693 called Causey Road (but referred to by older residents as the Stanley New Road) and go under the railway line to arrive at Causey Arch Picnic Site.
We leave the picnic park to the north and go down the steep minor road. Just after the bend go through the gate on our right and cross the Bodgins Burn. The route to the left is the way to Burnopfield on the Border Walks series of walks but here we ignore this and go straight ahead up the large field in front to the north to the ruins of Andrews House. Look out for red kites in this vicinity as they are often seen here. At the ruins we take the old access track to the farm and reach the Tanfield Railway workshops. Sunniside and District Local History Club have recently produced an excellent book and DVD on this railway which is met on several of our walks. Go to their excellent website for further details and l can recommend it, both as a good book and a good website.
The railway sheds built in 1854 are the oldest working railway sheds in the world and were built for John Bowes, a relative of the old Queen Mother for the Pontop and Jarrow Railway. This route, now a cycle track and bridleway can be followed all the way to Jarrow.
Here the Pontop Line crosssed the Tanfield Railway, met earlier at Causey Arch. In 1725 the Sunniside to Causey railway was built using wooden rails and horses or rope-hauled inclines to take coal to Dunston staithes. The railways were known as Newcastle Roads. The later development of steam engines by the Stephensons, Hackworth and Hedley (all of local origin) obviously progressed the transport of coal immensely although the line utilised the winding engines throughout its life until closure in the late 1960s. In 1977 part of the line was rebuilt from East Tanfield to Sunniside and is open to the public. The section down to Lobley Hill is thought to be the oldest wagonway in the world going back to the 1600s, over 200 years before the development of steam locos. There is certainly a lot of history around here!
From the Tanfield Railway car park we follow a path alongside the line down to Sunniside which is now public access although not marked up as a Right of Way on older maps. We cross the A692 near to the Potters Wheel pub and continue on the main road downhill on what was known as Bakers Bank, which was a winding engine section of the line. At the end of the houses and before Street Gate we turn off to the main road which is crossed and enter Lotties Wood which is Woodland Trust owned. This was named after a local character and was planted about 10 years ago. It is amazing how fast this has developed and l often see stoats and other wildlife here including roe deer and fox. Just after entering the wood you will pass a plaque which gives details of the bell pits which were located here. These were discovered when part of the site was being deep ploughed to create a flower meadow. We now descend down to the stream called Black Burn which is to the north-east of the site. There are several alternative paths which can be followed. Note that the trees planted are all indigenous to the area.
Bell Pit Plaque at Sunniside
The Black Burn is followed down to the bridleway from Streetgate to Whickham where we turn north past Marshall Lands Farm to Broom Lane and suburbia. Broom Lane is crossed and we follow the quiet Cornmoor Road north for about half a mile to arrive at the south entrance to Whickham Park. This was the home of Charles Attwood, the Weardale ironmaster who played a major part in the agigtation for parliamentary reform in the early 1800s and was the leader of the local Chartists.
The park is entered and after a short distance you will see the remains of the old windmill in the south-east corner of the park. There is no record of when this was built or when it was last in use as far as l know but it is likely to have been the medieval village mill owned by the lord of the manor, the Bishop of Durham, which the villagers were compelled to use to grind their corn. The name Whickham is derived from Quickham, the village of quickthorns or hawthorn bushes. We turn left past the childrens play area to come out at Front Street which is crossed. Note here the statue of Lang Jack which was moved here from its original site near Clockburn Wood on Hole Lane where he lived. The original site where he lived is on the site of a very old road probably being pre Roman. We turn into Church Chare and walk towards the church of St Mary. Just before the church is the rectory which occupies part of Whickham Hall, thought to be the oldest residence in the village. The church itself goes back to Saxon times is the oldest building in Whickham. The church has undergone many additions and modifications from Norman times onwards and the major work seen today is from 1862 when it was fully restored following a major fire in 1841. Grab hold of the knocker to start the Sanctuary Way!
The churchyard behind contains the grave of Henry Clasper the oarsman from Derwenthaugh. During the 1850s he was the champion oarsman on the Tyne and the races were watched by thousands. Indeed he was the most well known sportsman of the era in this region. At his funeral the mourners stretched all the way back to Swalwell. In the entrance to the church is a plaque to William Shield the musician and composer, born in Swalwell who is buried in Westminster Cathedral and is famous as the composer of a melody which Rabbie Burns later put words to to give us” Auld Lang Syne”.
Henry Clasper's Grave in Whickham Churchyard.
Continue the walk via the village green at the front of the church, which was purchased for the village in 1852 by the Reverend Carr and given to the village in perpetuity with a clause that it could never be built on and thereby the church could always be seen from the road. Prior to his purchase a local landowner named Atkins had fenced the land off and started a quarry but the locals tore down the fences and burnt his effigy. The vicar’s purchase proved more effective!
From the top of the green, take School Lane and you will soon pass the school opened in 1742. This was a charity school aided by the church well before state education. Follow the lane around to the main road, where you continue east, passing the old toll house on the Gateshead to Hexham road. Behind the garage is Dockendale Hall built in the late 16th Century for the Earl of Darlington and later owned by Sir Thomas Liddell of Ravensworth who was a noted Royalist and became a Baron for his help in the defence of Newcastle in 1644. Cromwell on his march north to Edinburgh reputedly slept here for two nights pouring further humiliation on the defeated Royalists. Hence the name of Cromwell Road nearby.
After passing the Police Station we turn right into Washingwell Lane which is on the Tyne Wear Trail and which will be our route over the next few miles back to Beamish. After passing some large new houses on the right, take note of the openings in the wall on the right. These were put in during the early part of WW2 to provide shooting stations should the Germans invade us. Incredible! A bit like the Maginot Line as they could have walked round the side. After passing Washingwells farm we approach a wood. Just before this is the site of a Roman fort discovered by aerial photography in the 1960s during a time of drought. We descend through the wood and leave the Tyne Wear Trail for a short while to walk around the lake in Washingwell Country Park. This was created on the site of Washingwell Colliery. The pit heap here burned for many years before being extinguished and this enabled the work to go ahead making this fine park which is an asset to the area. We climb out up the clear track to Fugar Bar on the A693 just downhill from the Marquis of Granby where refreshment can be obtained all day. We take the route opposite the pub, on the Tyne Wear Trail which continues past two houses, enters an attractive wood and continues to Pennyfine Lane. You then cross Burdon Fell passing through a horse area with stables to arrive at spot height 207 metres. To the north prior to this were fine views of Newcastle and down the Tyne but now the views are over to Beamish and County Durham with views of the Cleveland Hills and Teeside in the distance on a clear day.
We follow the route south and pass by the side of Burdon Moor restoration site where a lowland heath has been created. These are now quite rare and the site is already proving to be very interesting with much bird and plantlife doing well. We cross the Pontop to Jarrow cycle track here in a cutting and enter Hedley Hall Woods owned by the Woodland Trust. These again were mostly planted in recent times and have developed well but there is also an area of ancient woods in Mill Wood in the south-west corner, just to the west of the lake. We pass by the side of the lake about one mile after entering the property. The route is not totally clear here but if you continue on one of the many paths through the wood heading south you will emerge above the lake looking down on it. Alternatively you can walk through Hedley Hall and pick up the paths to the south after turning part right.
After the lake you arrive at the old coach road to Beamish Hall which is followed east, still on the Tyne Wear Trail. Where the coach road climbs up look out for a path on the right which climbs up parallel to the old coach road to the edge of the mature conifer wood. We walk south on dry ground along the edge of the wood past Pockerley Hills over Beamish East Moor then descend steeply towards the end of the wood, onto a track which takes us to High Forge. Turning right for a short distance we then enter Ousborough Wood on the left on a broad track and cross the River Team. Shortly after this is a footbridge over the river which gives access back to Eden Place but it is preferable to stay on the main track. After the bend in the river there is another footbridge which the Tyne Wear Trail takes but this is a steep climb at the end of the day and in is often wet and slippery. The best way is to continue alongside the River Team to the next footbridge. Here there are two footpaths which ascend the valley slope. The one heading to the left in a south-east direction is well graded and stepped while that to the right in a south-west direction is slightly steeper but shorter. Either way we pick up the path alongside Urpeth Common which reaches the Sustrans Railway path. It is now just a short distance back to the site of Beamish Station where you turn right along the route of the siding to reach the road. This is crossed and through the wood on the other side is Eden Place. If you reach the cow sculpture on the railway path you have came too far so retrace your steps to the Station.
Pack Horse Bridges
Filed under: Pack Horse BridgesWhat is a pack horse bridge? The simple answer is that it is a bridge that was built so that pack horses and their loads could cross an obstruction which was virtually always a river or fast flowing stream. Pack horse bridges had certain characteristics which separated them from other bridges – a genuine pack horse bridge is defined as being 6 feet wide or less, built prior to 1800 and have known pack horse associations. However there are bridges built before 1800 which appear to be pack horse bridges, and indeed they are the same design, but served as access to cottages etc. and were not on a route so do not actually qualify as a pack horse bridge.
The use of pack horses to carry goods goes back to the transport of salt which was a very important product from early times. The main routes were from Cheshire but smaller salt pans existed down much of the east and south coast. Locally salt was produced at the mouth of the Tees and Tyne and the routes taken can be traced in towns were there are street names such as Salters Road or Lane as in Gosforth and Darlington. Wool also became very important and in 1305 over 45,000 sacks of wool were carried and exported. The peak period for pack horses was from 1650 to 1800 when all manner of goods were carried, including fish to London as well as corn, coal, charcoal and in our region lead and iron ores. These were all carried in panniers which were slung on wooden pack frames on the side of the horse. To ensure that there was adequate clearance the parapets on pack horse bridges were very low or entirely absent. When the trade ceased parapets were often added to the bridge for the safety of pedestrians. Over the years many routes have either disappeared or been upgraded to roads and in the latter case this normally meant that the bridge disappeared. Old routes can often be traced by the names of the pubs en route such as Pack Horse Inn as at Tanfield, Burnopfield and High Spen, whilst in Yorkshire Woolpack indicates a pack horse route.
In County Durham there are five good examples of pack horse bridges at Deepdale, Egglestone Abbey, Headlam, Ketton Hall and West Hope with what is probably a pack horse bridge at Thwaite near Barningham. There are none on the Carriers Way as far as l know.
The horses which worked in this region were Galloways from south-west Scotland (hence the Galloway track) and a very local breed which were used in Weardale called Carroway, derived from Carrier-Galloway and used in lead mining.
All of the pack horse bridges mentioned above are (or will be) visited on my walks.
As well as the pubs there are other words associated with pack horseroutes. A ‘badger’ was a pedlar who was licensed to carry corn from an important market to smaller markets, hence The Badger Way on Barningham Moor and The Badger Stone on Ilkley Moor. ‘Stoops’ were guideposts and ‘Jagger’ (which is thought to be a corruption of Jaegar) was a breed of pack horse from Germany. Locally there is a Jaggers Lane at West Gilling on a pack horse route.
The “bible” for bridges is “The Ancient Bridges of England and Wales” by Edwin Jervoise. This 4 volume set from1930 -1936 includes all types of bridges. On pack horses specifically the best book is “The Packhorse Bridges of England” by Ernest Hinchcliffe published by Cicerone. I lean heavily for these notes from that book which is still available. For Jervoise you will have to go to the local library.