Cow Green Reservoir

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2014

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

Cow Green reservoir is a large reservoir at the top of Teesdale which was built to provide water for industrial Teesside. It is at the centre of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty and reached by a three mile drive off the B6277.

Miles from the nearest habitation, surrounded by bare moorland at about 1600’, this can be one of the bleakest areas in Britain on a cold wet and windy day. On a sunny day it is some of the best scenery in Britain.

We drove down to the car park at the end of the road with information boards and a view across the reservoir with views across to Great Dun Fell and Cross Fell in the west. There is a waymarked nature trail along the side of the reservoir to the waterfall at Cauldron Snout. This is on a well made tarmac path suitable for wheelchairs except for the last 100 yards with a rock scramble up to Cauldron Snout. There are three steep sections with a climb of 1in 20. There is a large kissing gate which is suitable for a wheelchair but not large mobility scooter. This is a lovely walk out in the wilds of some of the most magnificent scenery in Britain. Unless there are other walkers around, there will be only you and may be a skylark or curlew for company.

We also explored the well made footpath which runs north along the reservoir. This again was an easy walk although there is a locked gate a short distance from the car park which would be difficult for wheelchair users to get round.

There are no facilities at the car park, just a portaloo. Langdon Beck Hotel where the road leaves the B6277 is open all day and serves meals.

A word of advice:

Go prepared with waterproofs and an extra sweater and weather can change suddenly up here.

Visit website

There is information about the nature trail (numbers 1-5) here

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.