We took a drive up the dale and parked near the Cow Green Reservoir. This is on the Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve, 8800 hectares of upland and part of the Upper Teesdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, as we set off along the footpath alongside the reservoir.Once we were away from the car parks we saw nobody, apart from one man walking the Pennine Way. He was walking north and planning to pitch his tent for an overnight stay on the moor.
Teesdale is well known amongst botanists for the Teesdale Assmeblage, a group of some 20 plants found in this area. We were absolutely delighted to spot the Teesdale spring gentian, Teesdale violet and mountain pansy.
As we looked across the reservoir we saw the Great Dun Fell radar station, and Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines. There were sheep, and we were lucky enough to spot Black grouse and their chicks. This is the weather station, measuring the effects of climate change on upland flora and fauna.
It was a pleasant walk down to the Cow Green Dam, followed by a scramble over boulders to see Cauldron Snout. This is the longest waterfall in England, though due to its more isolated position, less well known than the nearby High Force.
2 June 2016
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