Blackling Hole

Waterfall in Durham

England

Blackling Hole

War memorial at Woodland Woodland&#039;s war memorial resembles a chimney! The building behind it is presumably a chapel of some kind. — War memorial at Woodland Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Blackling Hole is a captivating natural wonder located in County Durham, England. This picturesque waterfall is nestled within the scenic landscape of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Situated near the village of Cowshill, it attracts nature enthusiasts, hikers, and photographers alike.

The waterfall is formed by the Black Burn River as it cascades over rugged rocks, creating a mesmerizing display of rushing water and mist. The falls are surrounded by lush vegetation, including ferns, mosses, and heather, adding to its ethereal charm. The sound of the rushing water combined with the peaceful ambiance makes Blackling Hole a serene and tranquil spot.

Access to Blackling Hole is relatively easy, with a well-maintained footpath leading visitors to the waterfall. Along the way, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including rolling hills and expansive meadows. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and small mammals, making it a haven for nature lovers.

Blackling Hole is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking and picnicking. Its natural beauty and peaceful setting make it an ideal spot for relaxation and rejuvenation. Whether it is exploring the nearby footpaths, capturing breathtaking photographs, or simply enjoying the soothing sounds of nature, Blackling Hole offers a memorable experience for visitors of all ages.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Blackling Hole Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.643036/-1.9191614 or Grid Reference NZ0527. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

War memorial at Woodland

Woodland's war memorial resembles a chimney! The building behind it is presumably a chapel of some kind.

Trevor Littlewood

Bridleway from the forest

The grassy area appears never to have been forested so cannot properly be described as a forest clearing. Parts (perhaps all) of it are a conservation area, so presumably will never suffer the fate of blanket conifer infestation. Most of the tracks in the forest are not rights of way, and most of the bridleways are effectively impenetrable, so it's a nice change to find a section of bridleway which is a fully-fledged track actually capable of use by horse or bike riders.

Andy Waddington

Timber stacks beside forest road

There's a large amount of timber cutting going on in that part of Hamsterley Forest just north of Spurlswood Beck. The timber stacks are just the outlying log piles, further along the road there are many more.

Trevor Littlewood

Forest road above Spurlswood Beck

The road heading basically north has standing conifers to the right and the 'brash' of a clear-felled area to the left. The road is part of a Hamsterley Forest path known as the Spurlswood Walk.

Trevor Littlewood

Opening in forest with wood ant nest

The ant nest in the foreground is one of a number of similar ones located in relatively open spaces along the uphill side of a forest road, which is also the route of a named path in Hamsterley Forest: the Spurlswood Walk.

Trevor Littlewood

People with dogs, approaching

The forest road runs alongside Spurlswood Beck and is part of the route of the Spurlswood Walk in Hamsterley Forest. Once, the road was open to motorists (on payment of a toll), which even online OS maps still name as an 'Ornamental Drive' at the 1:25 000 scale. The road is now closed to private vehicles: perhaps the income from tolls failed to cover the maintenance costs.

Trevor Littlewood

Forest road, part of the Spurlswood Walk

The forest road appears to be a relatively 'low duty' affair. It's used as part of a named Hamsterley Forest path known as the Spurlswood Walk. It's surely intended for less heavy traffic than another nearby road found almost a kilometre to the west - Link .

Trevor Littlewood

Forest road approaching junction

The road is part of a named pedestrian route in Hamsterley Forest, the Spurlswood Walk. The road to be joined is a much more robust affair, built to take heavy forestry traffic.

Trevor Littlewood

Pike Stone Farm

Oliver Dixon

Ford and bridge over the Spurlswood Beck

At the entrance to the Blackling Hole car park in Hamsterley Forest. The bridge is only of light construction - heavy vehicles must use the ford.

Oliver Dixon

Way out of Hamsterley Forest

This road leads out of the Forest from the end of the Forest Drive at Blackling Hole. It is also followed by the W2W (Walney to Wear) cycle route of the National Cycle Network Link

Oliver Dixon

Rock face beside the Hamsterley Forest Drive

The Forest Drive also carries the W2W (Walney to Wear) cycle route of the National Cycle Network Link

Oliver Dixon

Houses at the B6282 junction near Woodlands

Oliver Dixon

Clump of trees near Woodland village

Oliver Dixon

Mayland Farm

Oliver Dixon

Hillside at Oak Bank

Beside the Hamsterley Forest Drive. This small embayment may mark the site of a former forestry roadstone quarry.

Oliver Dixon

Barn and trees at Mayland Lea

Mayland Lea is a farm to the east of Hamsterley Forest; it's seen here from Windy Bank Road, a minor piece of highway that runs at the eastern edge of the forest.

Trevor Littlewood

Drystone wall near Woodland

Drystone walls are built without mortar, and their stability – they can stand for 200 years – is due to the skill of the craftsmen who place rough boulders and angular stones together. Many drystone walls were constructed as part of the enclosure of open grazing. They were especially useful in areas too exposed for hedgerows to survive and where stones were readily available. Most drystone walls are wider at the base than at the crown, and are often capped with coping stones. A typical wall has two outer layers of large, flattish stones enclosing an inner ‘heart’ of smaller, rounder stones. Often it is reinforced with ‘through bands’ of even larger, flat stones which can also be used as stiles. The very dryness of a wall makes it more likely to endure wind and frost and to act as shelter for livestock as well as a boundary.

Maigheach-gheal

Show me another place!

Blackling Hole is located at Grid Ref: NZ0527 (Lat: 54.643036, Lng: -1.9191614)

Unitary Authority: County Durham

Police Authority: Durham