Whorlton Riverside Walk
This walk may only be short, but it is not one to rush.
Starting in the heart of Whorlton, this gentle circular route follows quiet village lanes, woodland paths and the riverside edge of the River Tees. It is a walk for slowing down, noticing the small details and letting your mind feel free for a while.
Along the way you pass through one of Teesdale’s old crossing landscapes. There are views across to the former Boot and Shoe Inn at Wycliffe, the ruins of the old Ferryman’s Cottage, traces of historic fish weirs in the river, small waterfalls along Whorlton Beck, and a view of Whorlton Bridge with its old toll house.
This is exactly the kind of walk Outdoor Exploring Family is about. It is not about covering miles quickly. It is about fresh air, local history, quiet places, and reconnecting with the landscape around you.
A walk like this can take less than half an hour if you keep moving, but it is far better enjoyed slowly.
Quick Facts
Distance: 1.2 miles circular
Time: 25 to 40 minutes, but allow longer if you want to stop and explore
Start and finish: Whorlton village green
Postcode: DL12 8XD
Parking: Roadside parking in Whorlton village
Route type: Circular walk
Terrain: Village road, old track, woodland paths, riverside path, stepping stones and steps
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes
OS Map: Explorer OL31 Explorer North Pennines
Digital route: View the route
GPX files: Free download here
Parking and Access
There is no official car park for this walk, but there is roadside parking within Whorlton village.
Use postcode DL12 8XD, which will take you to the centre of Whorlton.
Please park responsibly and avoid blocking driveways, gateways or footpaths. Whorlton is a small village, and careful parking helps keep it welcoming for everyone.
The route follows public rights of way, village roads, an old track, woodland paths and riverside sections beside the River Tees. It is a gentle walk overall, but the woodland paths can become muddy and slippery after rain.
There are stepping stones near the point where Whorlton Beck meets the River Tees. These are part of the character of the walk, but they may be slippery or unsafe when water levels are high. Use your judgement and do not cross if the water is too fast or deep.
The Route
Start from Whorlton village green and head up through the village, passing the old village pub. Just before the row of bungalows, turn right and follow the single-track road downhill.
As the road bends sharply to the right, look over to your left. After heavy rain, you may catch a glimpse of Whorlton Beck Waterfall, a small seasonal waterfall tucked into the beck below. It does not always flow strongly, but when the water is up it adds a lovely little moment near the start of the walk.
Follow the track as it curves to the right. When the path splits, keep right and continue along the track with Whorlton Beck below on your right-hand side.
At the end of the track, the path splits again. Keep right and pass through the two large standing stones. From here, the route begins to drop gently between the trees.
As you follow the path downhill, the River Tees slowly comes into view. This is one of the nicest moments on the walk. The trees open, the water appears below, and the whole route suddenly feels peaceful and tucked away from the village above.
Pause here for a moment if you can.
Look across the river and see if you can spot one of the old fish weirs. On the opposite bank are the cottages at Wycliffe, where one building was once the old Boot and Shoe Inn. This was part of the old crossing landscape between Whorlton and the Yorkshire side of the Tees.
Turn right and follow the woodland riverside path.
Soon you will come to the ruined remains of the old Ferryman’s Cottage, also remembered locally as the Boathouse. It is hard to imagine now, but this quiet stretch of river was once a working crossing point. Before Whorlton Bridge was built, people crossed the Tees here by ford, stepping stones and later by ferry between the Whorlton side and Wycliffe.
Please do not enter the ruins. The stonework is fragile and unsafe, but it can be viewed from the path.
Continue along the riverside path, keeping the River Tees on your left. Look out for the small cascades. After rain, this section has a lovely sound, with water moving through the trees and over the stones.
When you reach the point where Whorlton Beck meets the River Tees, cross the large stepping stones and climb the steps on the far side.
At the top, there is a bench. This is a perfect place to sit for a few minutes, look back towards the water and take in the quiet before returning to the village.
Keep to the left-hand path and continue until you reach the road. As you come out, look for the unusual metal paintbrush fixed to the wall.
From here, you can see Whorlton Bridge and the old toll house. You do not cross the bridge on this walk, but the view is a lovely reminder of how important this crossing once was.
Follow the road uphill and it will bring you back into Whorlton village.
What You Will See
This short walk is full of small details. Some are easy to notice straight away, while others only appear when you slow down and take your time.
Whorlton Village
The walk begins and ends in Whorlton, a peaceful Teesdale village with stone houses, a village green and a strong sense of local history. Starting here gives the route a gentle village feel before it drops down towards the River Tees.
Woodland Paths
The route follows quiet woodland paths heading down to the riverside. These sections can be muddy after rain, but they give the walk much of its charm, with trees, water and old tracks leading you down towards the Tees.
The Boot and Shoe View
From the Whorlton side of the river, you can look across towards Wycliffe and the old Boot and Shoe crossing area. This was once part of the ferry landscape, where people moved between the Durham and Yorkshire sides of the River Tees.
Ferryman’s Cottage
The ruined riverside building is one of the most atmospheric parts of the walk. Often known as Ferryman’s Cottage, and also remembered as the Boathouse, it stands close to the old ferry crossing. The ruins are unsafe, so enjoy them from the path.
Fish Weirs and Small Falls
The River Tees and Whorlton Beck both add to the character of this route. Look for the old fish weirs in the river and listen for the small falls and cascades where Whorlton Beck makes its way down towards the Tees.
Whorlton Bridge and Toll House
Near the end of the walk, the route gives you a view of Whorlton Bridge and the small toll house at its north-west end. The bridge was once a paid crossing, and the toll house is a reminder that crossing the Tees here once came at a cost.
A Moment of Calm
There is a moment on this walk, just as the path drops down through the trees and the River Tees comes into view, where everything seems to slow.
It is not a dramatic viewpoint or a big climb. It is simply the quiet reveal of water, trees, stone and sky.
That is what makes this walk special.
You can stand beside the river and look across to Wycliffe, listen to the water moving over the weirs, notice the old ruins beside the path, or sit on the bench above Whorlton Beck and let the day settle for a while.
This is a short walk, but it gives you time to breathe. It is a reminder that a good walk does not need to be long. Sometimes the best ones are the ones that help you notice what is already close by.
Explore More Nearby
If you enjoyed this walk, you may also like our full history page about Whorlton Bridge, where we explore the old ferry crossing, the failed stone bridge of 1829, the suspension bridge, the toll house, the fish weirs and the earlier ways people crossed the River Tees.
You can also discover more historic crossings in our Bridges of Teesdale collection, including bridges, aqueducts and old river routes that helped shape the dale.
For more walks, waterfalls, reservoirs, villages, history and family-friendly places to explore, visit our Discover Teesdale homepage. It is our growing guide to the dale, built from real walks, old maps, local research and time spent out in the landscape.
Outdoor Exploring Family is about slowing down, noticing the small details and helping more people connect with the places around them.