The Great Stone in Deepdale Woods

What Is the Great Stone?

Walk through Deepdale Woods and sooner or later you'll come across a huge pink boulder sitting beside Deepdale Beck.

This is the Great Stone.

At first glance it looks completely out of place. Most of the rocks around Deepdale are grey, yet the Great Stone has a distinctive pink colour that immediately catches your eye.

That's because it didn't come from Teesdale.

The Great Stone is a glacial erratic, a boulder carried here by ice during the last Ice Age. Geologists have identified it as Shap Granite, meaning it originally came from what is now Cumbria before being deposited here thousands of years ago.

Look closely and you'll often see large pink crystals sparkling within the rock, a reminder that this stone formed around 400 million years ago.

Today it remains one of the most interesting natural features in Deepdale Woods and a fascinating link to Teesdale's Ice Age history.

How Did the Great Stone Get Here?

To understand how the Great Stone reached Deepdale Woods, you have to imagine Teesdale during the last Ice Age.

Around 20,000 years ago, this peaceful woodland lay beneath a vast sheet of ice hundreds of metres thick. As glaciers slowly moved eastwards from the Lake District, they carried huge quantities of rock with them.

Among those rocks was the pink granite boulder we now know as the Great Stone.

Over thousands of years, the glacier dragged, pushed and rolled the boulder across the landscape. The movement gradually smoothed its edges, creating the rounded shape visible today.

When the climate began to warm and the ice eventually melted, the stone was left behind in Deepdale. It has remained here ever since, resting beside the beck for roughly 11,000 to 12,000 years.

The Great Stone may look permanent, but it is actually a traveller from another county, carried here by one of the most powerful natural forces Britain has ever experienced.

Route to the Great Stone

From the Deepdale Nature Reserve car park, follow the main woodland path alongside Deepdale Beck.

The route winds gently through the trees, crossing several wooden bridges while the beck remains close by. Along the way you'll pass wild garlic in spring, attractive riverside sections and some of the woodland's most peaceful viewpoints.

After approximately 1.17 miles, you'll reach the Great Stone beside the beck.

Its distinctive pink granite stands out clearly against the surrounding rocks and woodland, making it surprisingly easy to spot once you arrive.

The stone sits only a short distance from the path and provides a natural stopping point before returning the same way.

Take a Moment by the Stone

Deepdale Woods has a special kind of calm.

The sound of Deepdale Beck, the shade of the woodland and the slower pace of life here make it easy to forget you're only a short distance from Barnard Castle.

When you reach the Great Stone, take a moment to stop and look at it properly.

This single boulder has travelled further than most of us ever will. It began life deep beneath the Earth's surface hundreds of millions of years ago, was carried across the landscape by glaciers during the Ice Age, and now rests quietly beside the beck.

It's a simple reminder of just how much history can be hidden within a single stone.

Other Things to Discover in Deepdale Woods

The Great Stone is only one of the reasons people return to Deepdale Woods.

Along the route you'll also find traces of the old rifle range, where earth banks and stone structures still hint at the woodland's military past.

Further through the valley are the remains of the old railway viaduct, a reminder of the Stainmore railway that once crossed Deepdale.

Keep your eyes open and you may also spot the mysterious Monk's Head, a carved stone face hidden among the rocks beside the beck. Nobody knows exactly who created it or when it first appeared, adding another layer of mystery to the woodland.

Together these features make Deepdale Woods one of the most fascinating places to explore around Barnard Castle.

Explore More Around Barnard Castle

Deepdale Woods
Discover the full history of Deepdale Woods, including the old rifle range, railway remains, woodland wildlife and hidden places waiting to be explored.

The Monk's Head
Find the mysterious carved stone face hidden beside Deepdale Beck and discover the theories behind one of Teesdale's most unusual landmarks.

Red Well Spring
Visit the Victorian spring that once attracted visitors to Barnard Castle seeking the reputed benefits of its iron rich waters.

Walks in and Around Barnard Castle
Explore more woodland walks, riverside routes and local discoveries from our collection of walks in and around Barnard Castle.

Barnard Castle Town Guide
Plan your visit with our guide to Barnard Castle, including attractions, history, parking and places worth exploring nearby.