Cow Green to Cauldron Snout Challenging Circular Walk
This Cow Green to Cauldron Snout circular walk is a wild and challenging route through one of the most dramatic landscapes in Upper Teesdale. Starting at Cow Green Reservoir Car Park, the walk takes you down towards the dam and Cauldron Snout, along a rough and rocky stretch beside the River Tees, then back out across open moorland before looping round towards the reservoir again.
This is not the easiest way to see Cauldron Snout. It is a harder and more adventurous walk that gives you a very different feel for the area, with steep ground, slippery rock, rugged riverside terrain, and long open sections where confidence and good navigation really matter.
For experienced walkers, though, this route has a lot to offer. You get big views, a dramatic approach to the waterfall, quieter stretches away from the better known path, and a real sense of being out in the landscape. It is a walk that feels remote, raw and memorable from start to finish.
Quick Facts
Distance: 7.63 miles
Route type: Circular walk
Elevation gain: Approximately 652 ft
Terrain: Steep rocky descent, rough riverside ground, open moorland, grassy sections and road walking
Difficulty: Difficult and only suited to experienced hikers
Dog friendly: Not recommended due to steep rocky ground and challenging riverside terrain
OS map: Explorer OL31 North Pennines
Digital route: View the full route on Hiiker
Parking and access
Parking for this walk is at Cow Green Reservoir Car Park, DL12 0HX.
This is the most practical starting point for the route and gives direct access towards the dam and the high ground above Cauldron Snout. The car park sits in a very exposed upland setting, so even before the walk begins it is worth being prepared for changing weather, strong winds and colder conditions than lower down in the valley.
This is a serious walk and it is important to be honest about that from the start. The route includes a steep rocky descent, rough riverside ground close to the River Tees, uneven open moorland, and a long return section that can feel tiring after the more technical parts of the walk. In wet weather, after heavy rain, or when the river is running high, sections of this walk can become much harder and in places unsafe.
Good boots, care on rough ground, and confidence on exposed terrain are all essential here. This route is best suited to experienced walkers with solid navigation skills and a good level of fitness.
The walk
From Cow Green Reservoir Car Park, begin by making your way down towards the dam and the Cauldron Snout area. The first stretch gives you that immediate feeling of space that makes Cow Green so distinctive, with open skies, moorland all around, and the reservoir sitting quietly behind you.
As you continue, the walk soon becomes more demanding. The descent down towards the bottom of Cauldron Snout is steep, rocky and awkward in places, and this is where extra care is needed. In dry conditions it already needs confidence, and after rain the rocks can become very slippery. This is not a section to rush, and it is the point where the walk clearly becomes one for experienced hikers rather than casual visitors.
Once you reach the lower ground near the waterfall, the reward is a much more dramatic view of Cauldron Snout than most people get. Instead of looking down from above or following the more familiar approach, you see the waterfall from a lower perspective, with the water forcing its way through the narrow rocky channel and crashing into the gorge below. It feels louder, harsher and far more powerful from here.
After Cauldron Snout, the route follows the curve of the River Tees along a rough and rocky riverside section. This is another part of the walk that demands care. The ground is uneven, the footing can be awkward, and the path runs close to the river through a rugged landscape of boulders and broken rock. When water levels are high, parts of this section may be covered or much more difficult to pass, so conditions matter a lot on this route.
As the walk moves on, the landscape begins to open out. The harsher riverside terrain gives way to wider moorland and more open ground, with the route stretching into a quieter part of Upper Teesdale. This change in feel is one of the best things about the walk. One moment you are picking your way through rocky ground beside the river, and the next you are out in a broad open landscape with long views and a real sense of remoteness.
Further on, the route joins easier ground and continues round through the upper valley landscape before turning back towards Cow Green. The final return has a very different feel from the dramatic earlier sections. It is less technical underfoot, but it can feel long and exposed, especially if the weather changes or your legs are already feeling the climb and rough terrain from earlier in the walk.
On the way back, you pass the remains of East Cow Green Mine, a reminder that this high and quiet landscape also has an industrial past. It is one of those details that adds extra character to the walk and helps tell the wider story of the Cow Green area.
By the time you return to the car park, this walk feels properly earned. It is not the easiest route in Upper Teesdale, and it is not one for everyone, but for experienced and confident walkers it offers a far more adventurous way to explore one of the wildest corners of the North Pennines.
What you will see on this walk
The steep rocky scramble down
The descent towards Cauldron Snout is one of the key features of the walk. It is steep, rough, and challenging, and it quickly shows why this route is only suited to experienced hikers who are confident on difficult terrain.
Cauldron Snout Waterfall from below
One of the biggest highlights of this route is seeing Cauldron Snout from a much less usual angle. From below, the waterfall looks more dramatic and more powerful, with the water crashing through the narrow rock channel in a way that feels much wilder than the standard view.
Rocky riverside terrain beside the River Tees
The section that follows the River Tees is one of the most demanding parts of the walk. Large rocks, uneven ground, and the closeness of the river make it a slow and careful stretch, but it also gives the route a much more adventurous feel.
The path into the open landscape
Later in the walk, the route begins to soften visually, with paths leading out into the wider moorland. This contrast between the hard rocky riverside and the quieter open ground is part of what makes the circular route so rewarding.
Wide open views across Upper Teesdale
This walk is not only about the waterfall. There are also wide views across the surrounding Teesdale landscape, with rolling hills, open fellside, and a feeling of real distance that makes the route feel bigger and wilder.
East Cow Green Mine remains
On the return section, the walk passes the remains of East Cow Green Mine. These old features add interest to the route and connect the walk to the industrial history of the Cow Green area.
A moment of calm
This is not an easy walk, and it is not a gentle one either. But there are moments on this route when the landscape opens up, the noise of the water fades behind you, and all you can hear is the wind across the moor and the River Tees moving through the valley.
Cow Green has a way of making you feel small in the best possible sense. Out here, away from busy places and everyday noise, there is space to breathe, slow down, and feel properly connected to the landscape.
About this walking guide
This Cow Green to Cauldron Snout circular walk guide is based on a real visit by Outdoor Exploring Family. We write our walking pages to be honest, helpful, and realistic, so you know what to expect before setting off.
This route is genuinely challenging and should only be attempted by experienced walkers who are confident on steep rocky ground, rough riverside sections, and remote moorland terrain. Conditions can change quickly in Upper Teesdale, and the route may be much harder in wet weather or when river levels are high.