Snail Bed Cleugh

Valley in Durham

England

Snail Bed Cleugh

Grazing pasture at Newhouse Pastures This is an area of level pasture adjacent to the Weardale Way. — Grazing pasture at Newhouse Pastures Credit: Clive Nicholson

Snail Bed Cleugh is a small valley located in the county of Durham, England. Nestled within the beautiful landscape of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this picturesque valley offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The valley takes its name from Snail Bed Cleugh Burn, a small river that runs through it. This babbling brook is known for its crystal-clear waters and is home to a variety of wildlife, including brown trout and otters. The river winds its way through the valley, creating a series of cascades and pools that add to the area's natural charm.

Surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery, Snail Bed Cleugh offers breathtaking views in every direction. The valley is covered in a patchwork of fields, meadows, and woodlands, providing a haven for wildflowers and a rich diversity of plant and animal species.

Visitors to Snail Bed Cleugh can explore the area on foot along the network of walking trails that crisscross the valley. These paths lead hikers through ancient woodlands, over quaint stone bridges, and up to panoramic viewpoints offering sweeping vistas of the surrounding countryside.

For those seeking a peaceful retreat or a place to connect with nature, Snail Bed Cleugh provides a serene and idyllic setting. Whether you wish to admire the flora and fauna, enjoy a picnic by the river, or simply take a leisurely stroll, this hidden gem in Durham is a haven of natural beauty waiting to be discovered.

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Snail Bed Cleugh Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.746403/-2.1905289 or Grid Reference NY8739. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Grazing pasture at Newhouse Pastures

This is an area of level pasture adjacent to the Weardale Way.

Clive Nicholson

Embankment on the former Bishop Auckland to Wearhead branch line

Similar view in image NY8837 : Low embankment on the former Bishop Auckland to Wearhead branch line but a different season.

Clive Nicholson

Embankment on the former Bishop Auckland to Wearhead branch

The disused line embankment between Daddry Shield and St. John's Chapel.

Clive Nicholson

Small waterfall on the River Wear upstream of Daddry Shield bridge

Clive Nicholson

Farmland west of St John's Chapel

Mike Pennington

Farmland west of St John's Chapel

Mike Pennington

Farm west of St John's Chapel

Mike Pennington

Bridleway over Carr Brow Moor

From Middlehope Bank (the minor road from Rookhope to Ireshopeburn) the bridleway gives good walking down towards Levelgate Sike and up over the shoulder of Bleak Laws on Carr Brow Moor. Just beyond the horizon, it passes through a gate and becomes a more substantial track, rather cut up by big tractor tyres, making the descent into Weardale a bit more wearing than the pleasant going on the moor.

Andy Waddington

Not much shelter left

This disused railway goods van shell has been here long enough to be mapped by the OS, but in that time, the weather has done it no good at all. With parts of the roof falling in, and part blown off, it may provide shelter from the wind for a few sheep, but certainly won't keep the rain or snow off. One panel seems to have been replaced by corrugated iron, but it looks as though the owner has decided that further repair is pointless. One hopes that on its final demise, it is removed and metal parts suitably recycled, not left here to rust and rot away completely.

Andy Waddington

River Wear near Waterside Farm

Clive Nicholson

Snow-covered field with trees beyond

A winter view from the car park at the east end of the village of St John's Chapel beside the farmers' market. A spring time image from the same location can be seen here - Link .

Trevor Littlewood

Newfield

The property at Newfield seen along its access road high on the northern side of Weardale.

Trevor Littlewood

Three methods of crossing

Huntshield Ford at St John's Chapel where in addition to the ford there's a footbridge and stepping stones.

Trevor Littlewood

River Wear upstream from Huntshield Ford

Low water in the river would almost allow a dry shod crossing of the concrete roadway, but there are stepping stones to use and a footbridge immediately behind the camera position.

Trevor Littlewood

River Wear upstream near Daddry Shield

Extensive areas of stones and boulders are exposed due to the low water level in the river in this view from the Weardale Way on its south side. [Note: as this image upload was made, (28 April 2022), 1:50 000 OS mapping, depending on how it was accessed on the Geograph website showed the route of the Weardale Way on different sides of the river at the location.]

Trevor Littlewood

Trees on grazing land at West Blackdene

Several deciduous trees in the field which has rough grazing; it's south of a minor road in Weardale. Chapel Fell is the moorland hill in the distance.

Trevor Littlewood