Baldersdale
Baldersdale is the broad valley of the River Balder, on the east side of the Pennines in the North Riding of Yorkshire, through which the Balder makes its way down to Teesdale. It is to be found to the north-west of Barnard Castle.
The dale is on the south side of Teesdale, which latter dale divides Yorkshire]] from County Durham. Balderdale runs from west to east form the moor to the Tees, in quiet, rural country. Its principal villages are Hury and Briscoe.
The River Balder flows through Baldersdale before reaching Cotherstone where it joins the River Tees. The river flows through three reservoirs on the way: Balderhead Reservoir, Blackton Reservoir and Hury Reservoir. Running roughly parallel to Baldersdale to the north is Lunedale. A former railway viaduct from the now-closed Barnard Castle to Middleton-in-Teesdale line crosses the River Balder just west of Cotherstone.
About the dale
Baldersdale Youth Hostel, run by the Youth Hostels Association, was a popular overnight stop on the Pennine Way which passes through the valley, but it has now closed. The building has reopened as Blackton Lodge. There are various self-catering holiday cottages situated in the dale, including West Hury and East Briscoe.
On television
Hannah Hauxwell, who became well known after an ITV documentary about her life in 1973 (Too Long A Winter), worked an inherited farm on her own in Baldersdale under very frugal conditions at Low Birk Hat.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Baldersdale) |
- Location map: 54°34’0"N, 2°4’60"W