Brackenbridge Moss

Downs, Moorland in Durham

England

Brackenbridge Moss

Moor House beside B6278 Moor House is a small, deserted property beside the B6278 south of Stanhope. Scurfield House is partly hidden by the right hand tree. — Moor House beside B6278 Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Brackenbridge Moss, located in Durham, England, is a captivating area of downs and moorland that stretches across a vast expanse of land. With its stunning natural beauty and diverse ecosystem, this location has become a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking solace in the tranquility of the countryside.

The moss is characterized by its rolling hills and heathland, covered in a tapestry of vibrant purple heather during the summer months. It is home to a variety of plant species, including sphagnum moss, cotton grass, and bilberry. These plants thrive in the acidic soil found in this upland area, creating a unique and visually striking landscape.

Wildlife flourishes in Brackenbridge Moss, with a range of species making their homes here. The moss provides an ideal habitat for birds such as curlews, lapwings, and skylarks, which can often be heard singing their melodious tunes as they soar above the moorland. Additionally, the area is home to small mammals like voles and shrews, and occasionally larger animals such as deer can be spotted.

Visitors to Brackenbridge Moss can explore the area through a network of walking trails that wind their way through the moorland. These trails offer breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, showcasing the true beauty of this natural wonder. The moss is also a popular spot for picnicking and photography, offering countless opportunities to capture the stunning vistas and wildlife.

Brackenbridge Moss is a true gem of Durham, providing an escape from the bustling city life and offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the untamed beauty of nature.

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Brackenbridge Moss Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.724254/-2.0278061 or Grid Reference NY9836. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Moor House beside B6278

Moor House is a small, deserted property beside the B6278 south of Stanhope. Scurfield House is partly hidden by the right hand tree.

Trevor Littlewood

Archaeological dig north of Bollihope Burn

A group led from Newcastle University had excavated what was thought to be a seventeenth century dwelling or possibly an old mine shop on the west side of an enclosure north of Bollihope Burn. When the image was recorded the digging out had been completed; the on-going activity was to re-cover what had been exposed and to reinstate the site. Beyond the dig site grassy slopes rise to the north-west and the ridge leading to Carrs Top.

Trevor Littlewood

Aller Gill House

Aller Gill House lies on the south side of the River Wear and north of the minor road there.

Trevor Littlewood

Birkshaw

Birkshaw is one of an number of old farmsteads in the vicinity which have been abandoned or at least are deserted. Another abandoned feature seen here is a public footpath: below the centre of the image the through stones of a stile can be seen in the wall, and above them a notice attached to a pole. The notice tells that a path heading east from Birkshaw is not useable due to quarrying; this is odd! This notice and others were erected just a few years ago and yet the quarrying operation ended many decades ago, possibly in the 1940s.

Trevor Littlewood

Snape Gate

Horsley Burn is a tributary stream to the River Wear flowing north-east to join it west of Stanhope. Enclosures rise on the south side of the burn eventually giving way to grassy moorland; among the enclosures on that slope there's a surprising number of old farmsteads no longer in use. Some of the buildings are now ruins others merely abandoned; Snape Gate is one of that last group.

Trevor Littlewood

Snapegate Plantation

The southern side of Snapegate Plantation is seen in this image where it abuts on to grassy moorland rising (leftwards) towards the ridge of Carrs Top.

Trevor Littlewood

Feeding stream of Jopla Sike

The 'bruised line' of a quad bike route descends from Carrs Top over Turfhill End and from there has this view through one of the shallow feeding streams of Jopla Sike. The heather covered hill in the distance is Catterick, looking uncharacteristically shapely in this view.

Trevor Littlewood

Frozen pool south of Scot Hill

West from Catterick - the County Durham hill not the Yorkshire garrison town - lies Scot Hill which is in view immediately beyond the pool - the merest disturbance of a contour line! In the distance is Collier Law on the north side of the Wear Valley.

Trevor Littlewood

A 'Watter Rord' east of Carr's Top

Once when walking in the area east of Carr's Top between the Bollihope Burn and Weardale, there was shepherding activity and coming upon a farmer we were asked to avoid disturbance by keeping to the 'watter rord' - the water road - meaning a water cut or leet around the slope of the hill; this is not that cut but another. The purpose of these leets was two fold; to intercept streams draining down hill and to transport their water to another location for use. In this part of County Durham that would almost certainly be in the metal mining industry.

Trevor Littlewood