Cauldron Snout - Friday 27 June 2014
Route
Cow Green Reservoir - Widdy Bank Farm - Falcon Clints - Cauldron Snout - Cow Green Reservoir
Parking
Cow Green Reservoir (Weelhead Sike) (Free) - Grid Ref NY811309
Mileage
7.7 miles
Terrain
Good tracks and paths but care should be taken over the rocky and bouldery terrain of Falcon Clints. There is a short scramble up rocks adjacent to Cauldron Snout
Weather
Mainly overcast with some sunny periods
Time Taken
3hrs 25mins
Total Ascent
928ft (283m)
Map
OL31 - North Pennines (Teesdale & Weardale)
Cow Green Reservoir - Widdy Bank Farm - Falcon Clints - Cauldron Snout - Cow Green Reservoir
Parking
Cow Green Reservoir (Weelhead Sike) (Free) - Grid Ref NY811309
Mileage
7.7 miles
Terrain
Good tracks and paths but care should be taken over the rocky and bouldery terrain of Falcon Clints. There is a short scramble up rocks adjacent to Cauldron Snout
Weather
Mainly overcast with some sunny periods
Time Taken
3hrs 25mins
Total Ascent
928ft (283m)
Map
OL31 - North Pennines (Teesdale & Weardale)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
Another fairly long drive out from Barnard Castle to Langdon Beck & Cow Green Reservoir where we were to walk another section of The Pennine Way. The walk starts at Cow Green Reservoir which is reached from the B6277 at Langdon Beck following a quiet lane to the Car Park at the Reservoir.
The path leads out of the Car Park and follows the road you have just driven up almost to the B Road. We turned right at a Cattle Grid to walk along the access road to Widdy Bank Farm - just before the farm, the path joins The Pennine Way coming in from the left. There now begins a really pleasant amble along the Tees as far as Falcon Clints where the path suddenly becomes bouldery and where care needs to be taken. It is not overly onerous and there is a section of duckboard installed which gives welcome respite for a short while.
There is a feeling of anticipation approaching Cauldron Snout for the first time. It seems as though you are never going to reach it but you hear it before the impressive sight is seen. Cauldron Snout is more of a long cataract than a waterfall and is caused by the Upper Tees passing over the dolerite steps of the Whin Sill - similar to that at High Force. The force of the water of this 200 yard cataract is controlled by engineers. To reach the dam wall of Cow Green Reservoir there is an easy scramble to the right hand side of the cataract but this is by no means difficult providing you take your time.
Once at the dam wall the walk leaves The Pennine Way and heads back along a track on the eastern side of the Reservoir for a mile and a half back to the Car Park.
The path leads out of the Car Park and follows the road you have just driven up almost to the B Road. We turned right at a Cattle Grid to walk along the access road to Widdy Bank Farm - just before the farm, the path joins The Pennine Way coming in from the left. There now begins a really pleasant amble along the Tees as far as Falcon Clints where the path suddenly becomes bouldery and where care needs to be taken. It is not overly onerous and there is a section of duckboard installed which gives welcome respite for a short while.
There is a feeling of anticipation approaching Cauldron Snout for the first time. It seems as though you are never going to reach it but you hear it before the impressive sight is seen. Cauldron Snout is more of a long cataract than a waterfall and is caused by the Upper Tees passing over the dolerite steps of the Whin Sill - similar to that at High Force. The force of the water of this 200 yard cataract is controlled by engineers. To reach the dam wall of Cow Green Reservoir there is an easy scramble to the right hand side of the cataract but this is by no means difficult providing you take your time.
Once at the dam wall the walk leaves The Pennine Way and heads back along a track on the eastern side of the Reservoir for a mile and a half back to the Car Park.
The start of the walk is from the Car Park at Weelhead Sike, Cow Green Reservoir
Looking over Cow Green Reservoir to Great Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell & Cross Fell
Lets go! Walking down Cow Rake - this is the road to the Car Park from the main road
On the track to Widdy Bank Farm with Green Hill Scar centre & Cronkley Scar to the right
The River Tees at the junction with The Pennine Way
Looking back to Widdy Bank Farm
Raven Scar across the Tees
Boulder balancing ..........
.......... and again
Works on dogs too!
The bouldery path below Falcon Clints
Some respite from the boulders via the duckboard
Looking back down the Tees with Falcon Clints to the left
Cauldron Snout in full flow
Angie surveying the scramble to the side of Cauldron Snout
Another view of Cauldron Snout - the scramble up the side begins below and just to the right of the tree
The start of the scramble
Looking to the top of Cauldron Snout and the Dam Wall
Looking back down from the top of the waterfall
The Dam Wall
Cow Green Reservoir