The Monk’s Head in Deepdale Woods, Teesdale
Deepdale Woods is one of those special Teesdale places where history, mystery, and nature quietly come together.
Just a short walk from Barnard Castle, the woodland follows the winding line of Deepdale Beck through a peaceful and hidden corner of Teesdale. Deeper into the walk, tucked among the trees between Cat Castle and Crag Pond, lies something truly unexpected, a carved stone face known locally as the Monk’s Head.
You can begin from the small car park at Deepdale Nature Reserve (postcode DL12 9AZ), where there is space for around five cars. From here, a network of paths leads you gently into the woods, with benches along the way where you can pause and take in the surroundings. Please stick to the marked paths, as this is a protected area and home to birds, deer, and wildflowers.
As you follow the beck through the woodland, the walk begins to reveal its character. You’ll pass the Great Stone, a huge glacial boulder that feels almost out of place, and the remains of the old railway viaduct, where trains once crossed high above the valley. These quiet traces of Teesdale’s past turn a simple walk into something far more memorable.
Quick Facts
Start: Deepdale Nature Reserve car park, DL12 8TD
Distance: Approx 2.6 miles there
Time: Around 3 hours at a steady pace there and back
Grid ref for the Monk’s Head: NZ 007 162 (54.541400, –1.984942)
Highlights: Great Stone, rifle range remains, old railway viaduct, hidden stone carving
Dogs: Welcome on leads
Finding the Monk’s Head
From the car park, simply follow the beck upstream. You’ll cross several small bridges as the path winds through the trees, keeping the water close by on your left. On the opposite bank, you’ll spot the old rifle range, where stone walls and earth mounds still hint at Teesdale’s wartime past.
Keep walking towards Crag Pond, and roughly halfway between there and Cat Castle, the landscape begins to change the dale narrows, and you’ll notice large boulders scattered below the crag as if they’ve tumbled down over time.
That’s your clue you’re close.
On your right-hand side, just before the beck takes a sharp left corner, there’s a bird box marked “B2” fixed to a tree. A few steps beyond that, the Monk’s Head appears, carved into a block of stone, about waist height, quietly watching over the beck. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking carefully, but once you spot it, it’s unforgettable.
Birdbox just before the Monks Face
Woodland path in Deepdale
The Monks Head
Who Carved the Monk’s Head?
There are no official records of who created the carving, or when it first appeared in the woods. That mystery is part of what gives the Monk’s Head its quiet appeal, but it hasn’t stopped people from wondering.
Over the years, a few ideas have settled into local conversation.
One of the most common suggestions is that it was carved by an apprentice stonemason in the 1800s, perhaps practising his craft while working on nearby bridges or railway structures. The sandstone would have been easy to shape, and the woods a quiet place to experiment.
Another theory connects it to the area’s military past. With a rifle range once operating in Deepdale Woods, and troops based nearby in Startforth, it’s possible the face was carved by a soldier during the Second World War. A small way to pass the time, or leave something behind before moving on.
Some believe it could be older still. The shape and setting have led to suggestions of a link with Teesdale’s early Christian history, when monks and hermits are thought to have lived in the dales. In that version, the face becomes something more symbolic, quietly watching over those who passed through the valley.
There is also a simpler idea. That it was created by a local artist at some point in the twentieth century, inspired by the landscape and choosing to leave something hidden for others to discover.
None of these stories can be proven.
But perhaps that is the point.
The Monk’s Head has become part of Deepdale Woods itself, softened by time, weather, and moss. Whether it was carved with purpose or simply for the moment, it now sits quietly among the trees, waiting to be found.
Why Not Visit and Decide for Yourself?
Why not take a quiet walk and see which story feels right to you.
Sit for a while beside Deepdale Beck, listen to the water moving through the trees, and imagine who might have stood in this very spot, carving that face into the stone.
Whether you picture a stonemason, a soldier, or a passing artist, it’s a gentle reminder that the dales are full of stories, some told, and some left for us to discover.
If you do go looking, the Monk’s Head can be found within Deepdale Woods, tucked among the trees between Cat Castle and Crag Pond.
Coordinates: 54.5414, -1.984942 (NZ 007 162)
Take your time, explore slowly, and let the woods reveal it to you.
A Teesdale Walk Full of Character
Deepdale Woods has a special kind of calm, one that feels far from the modern world but full of quiet stories.
It’s a place children love to explore, adults find peaceful, and photographers can’t resist. Whether you visit for the walk, the wildlife, or to hunt for the Monk’s Head itself, it’s one of those Teesdale adventures that stays in your memory long after you’ve left.