Darlington

Walk Details:
Date: 8/7/2006
Total ascent: 4m/ 13ft
Total distance walked: 0.06 miles
Walk difficulty: 0/10
Enjoyment rating: 1/10
Best bits: Reasonable views
Worst bits: It’s right at the roadside – danger of feeling daft!
Walkers: Anth, Jim
Car Parking: There’s enough space to squeeze in on the roadside near the radio mast right at the county top.

Top details:
Name: Dere Street
County top number: 133 of 205
Grid reference: NZ 20637 24543
Height above sea level: 218m/ 715ft
How nice was the top? 1.5/10
Views: 3/10
Description/Notes: The highest point in Darlington is an unmarked and indeterminate point near a radio mast.

The Walk:

After two thoroughly depressing attempts at county tops, we desperately needed something quick, easy and spectacular. It appeared that Dere Street would fulfil the first two requirements, but might fail on the third.

Dere Street is one of those marvellously straight Roman Roads, but the road to join it from the north was wildly contorted. We parked as close to the county top as possible, next to the entrance to the radio mast compound. We wandered about briefly, decided on the highest point, took the obligatory photo, and got back in the car. We noted that there were reasonable though not spectacular views across Teeside, and that there were a huge number of model aircraft enthusiasts in the vicinity.

We then headed off for the next top, having barely even started to assuage the gloom in our hearts, and knowing that the remainder of today’s tops would probably be even less inspiring.