Low Force Geotrail

The Low Force Geotrail is a short circular route in Upper Teesdale, setting off from the tiny hamlet of Holwick and looping through a landscape shaped by ice, rock and centuries of quiet farming. Despite its modest length, the walk packs in a good deal of variety, with easy ground underfoot and a gentle climb spread across the route.

From Holwick the path leads past Keld Well and an old smithy before dropping towards the River Tees at Upper Low Force, where the water tumbles over dark whinstone ledges. The return climbs gradually through Wynch Bank Plantation, offering wider views across the dale before easing back to the start.

The wider area is rich in traces of earlier lives, with a Roman period native farmstead and settlement nearby, shielings and old tracks scattered across Holwick Scars, and a prehistoric settlement and burial cairn set into the moorland above. Hillock Sike adds another small waterway to the mix, making this a rewarding short outing for anyone interested in geology, archaeology and the character of Teesdale.