Allenshields and Buckshott Moor

Downs, Moorland in Durham

England

Allenshields and Buckshott Moor

Lone tree beside Belmount Beside the bends of a dirt road close to the abandoned and decaying farmhouse at Belmount, one of a number of deserted properties on the slope north of the valley, Burn Hope. — Lone tree beside Belmount Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Allenshields and Buckshott Moor, located in Durham, England, are two picturesque areas known for their stunning natural beauty and diverse ecosystems. These areas are classified as downs and moorland, characterized by rolling hills, heather-covered moors, and scattered woodlands.

Allenshields is a small village situated on the edge of the Pennines, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The village is known for its charming stone houses and a sense of tranquility that attracts nature enthusiasts and hikers. Additionally, the village is home to a few local amenities, including a small pub and a village hall.

Buckshott Moor, adjacent to Allenshields, is a vast expanse of moorland that stretches across the region. This area is a haven for wildlife and birdwatchers, with a variety of species thriving in its diverse habitats. Visitors can spot rare birds such as the merlin and curlew, as well as small mammals like hares and stoats. The moorland is also rich in plant life, with heather dominating the landscape during the summer months, creating a stunning purple carpet.

Both Allenshields and Buckshott Moor offer numerous walking trails and paths, allowing visitors to explore the natural wonders of the area. These trails provide an opportunity to immerse oneself in the peaceful surroundings, taking in the fresh air and enjoying the breathtaking vistas of the Durham countryside.

In conclusion, Allenshields and Buckshott Moor are two idyllic locations in Durham, offering visitors a chance to experience the beauty of downs and moorland landscapes. Whether it's a leisurely walk or a birdwatching adventure, these areas provide a refreshing escape into nature's splendor.

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Allenshields and Buckshott Moor Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.842067/-2.0534712 or Grid Reference NY9649. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Lone tree beside Belmount

Beside the bends of a dirt road close to the abandoned and decaying farmhouse at Belmount, one of a number of deserted properties on the slope north of the valley, Burn Hope.

Trevor Littlewood

Presser Pumping Station near the top of Bale Hill

Consett Water Company established in 1859 merged and became the Weardale and Consett Water Company in 1902. Some time late in the 19th or early 20th century one of the two former companies had taken over the engine house of closed Derwent Lead Mines and developed this Grade II Listed pumping house to supply water to Consett. It is reported that they started paying rent to the estate in 1902 and the rent in 1911 was £360.

Jo and Steve Turner

Newbiggin Hall and Birkside Farm from Bale Hill

The Reverend Daniel Capper sold up Newbiggin and Hunstanworth estate by auction in London on 1st August 1865. The sales brochure describes the mansion house of Newbiggin as the jewel in the estate crown. Rev Capper had recently spent £30,000 on new farm buildings, the latest water power machinery and rebuilding the estate cottages "with four rooms each". Kelly's Directory 1894 tells us it is owned by Edward Joicey esq. J.P. Pevsner documents that the house was rebuilt in Neo-classical style in 1906 after a fire of 1904 from a Latin inscription on the west wall. Reports indicate it has been a First World War sanatorium, a turkey farm and hotel and was more recently owned by a member of the Arabian royal family who stays a couple of times a year for the grouse shooting.

Jo and Steve Turner

View to East High House Farm from Bale Hill

Jo and Steve Turner

Hunstanworth from Bale Hill

Hunstanworth is one of the 'Thankful Villages' (a term popularised by the writer Arthur Mee in the 1930s) that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914-1918. The unusual patterns in the roof tiles was a creation of architect Samuel Sanders Teulon who had been commissioned by Reverend Daniel Capper, landowner who would stay in Newbiggin Hall during the grouse shooting season, to build a new church, school, reading room, shop and workers' terraced cottages in 1863. The distinctive diamond-patterned, steep-pitched roofs and Victorian Gothic detail make Hunstanworth unique among the villages of the North Pennines. Closure of the local lead mines in the 1880s diminished the 800 strong population (778 in 1861) to just 200 by 1901. The population of the village in 2011 was 116. John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72 informs us that "the church was rebuilt in 1865, at a cost of £2,500".

Jo and Steve Turner

Field entrance and footpath near the Rope Barn

JThomas

Minor road towards Allenshields

Looking south near the Rope Barn.

JThomas

Grazing near the Rope Barn

JThomas

Bridleway towards Edmondbyers

Les Hull

Road between Baybridge and Newbiggin House and Hall

This is a private road to the homes on this lane, however it carries a footpath up the valley to the fells.

Clive Nicholson

Road descending towards Baybridge

Clive Nicholson

Car park at Baybridge

Baybridge is just in Northumberland being on the north side of the River Derwent which forms the boundary between that county and County Durham. When first established the car park had a one way system - in one way and out the other, but now there's just one access from the public road.

Trevor Littlewood

Road to Rope Barn and Bridge End

Looking northward.

Peter Wood

Road and Bridge crossing Bolts Burn near Low Garden House

Looking south-westward.

Peter Wood

The Church of St James in Hunstanworth

Viewed from the south-west.

Peter Wood

Road beside St James' Church in Hunstanworth

Looking south-westward.

Peter Wood

Road from St James' Church to main road in Hunstanworth

Looking north-eastward.

Peter Wood

Ordnance Survey Flush Bracket G2999

This bracket can be found on the roadside wall of a building at Balehill. The benchmark height is recorded as being 334.451 metres above sea level. For more detail see : Link