Hannah’s Meadow
This peaceful walk in Baldersdale takes you through the flower rich meadows once farmed by Hannah Hauxwell, one of Teesdale's most recognised and loved figures. Along the way you'll discover sweeping views across Blackton Reservoir, a restored visitor barn telling Hannah's story, traditional upland farmland and one of the most important wildflower meadows in County Durham.
The route itself is short and easy, but this is not a walk to rush. It is a place to slow down, notice the landscape around you and spend time in a part of Teesdale that has changed very little over the years.
Quick Facts
Distance: 1.7 miles
Time: Around 1 hour
Walk Type: Circular meadow and reservoir walk
Start Location: Balderhead Reservoir Car Park
Postcode: DL12 9UX
Parking: Free parking beside the reservoir dam
Terrain: Grassy paths, meadow tracks and some uneven ground
Best for: Wildflowers, quiet walking, family friendly routes
OS Map: Explorer OL31 North Pennines
Digital Route Map: View the full route on Hiiker
GPX file: Free download here
Parking and Access
The main parking for Hannah's Meadow is at Balderhead Reservoir Dam, close to postcode DL12 9UX.
There are free parking areas on both sides of the dam and you can drive across the dam itself to access either side. This is where we usually park as it gives immediate views across the reservoir and a peaceful start to the walk. There are a few picnic benches here but no toilets, café or visitor facilities, so it is worth bringing anything you may need before setting off.
Route Description
From the reservoir car park, walk back up the access road towards the main road and turn right and follow the road for a short distance until you reach a gate on your right.
Go through the gate and you'll find an information board introducing Hannah's story and explaining the reserve. Follow the track ahead, keeping left where it divides, cross the cattle grid and continue towards Hannah's Barn.
The barn is usually open and contains displays about Hannah Hauxwell's life, the farming methods she used and the landscape she cared for. There are also activities for children.
After visiting the barn, retrace your steps along the wooden walkway and turn right. Continue down through the meadows towards the lower part of the meadow.
The path eventually reaches a small woodland beside the reservoir. Although the farmhouse is privately owned today, this was the home where Hannah lived for many years and where the television documentaries that made her famous were filmed. The farmhouse is a private residence, so please respect the privacy of those living there.
At the buildings, turn right and follow the waterside path beside Blackton Reservoir. This is one of the most enjoyable sections of the walk, with open views across the water and surrounding hills. The route eventually curves back towards Balderhead Dam before returning to the car park.
What You'll See
Hannah Hauxwell's Story
Inside Hannah's Barn you'll find historic photographs and displays explaining the life of Hannah Hauxwell. For many visitors, seeing these images helps bring her story to life and creates a stronger connection with the landscape outside. This photograph shows Hannah carrying out the everyday farm work that became known across Britain through the television documentaries that followed her life.
The Road Down Into Baldersdale
The walk begins by dropping gently downhill from the road. Almost immediately the views begin to open out across Baldersdale, with traditional stone barns, dry stone walls and the waters of Blackton Reservoir appearing below. It is one of those views that makes you slow down before you've even reached the meadow.
The wooden Walkway To The Barn
One of the most recognisable features of Hannah's Meadow is the wooden walkway that winds through the grassland towards the barn. During summer it passes through one of County Durham's most important wildflower meadows, allowing visitors to experience the landscape without damaging the delicate plants beneath their feet.
Farming Life in the North Pennines
The displays inside the barn explain how Hannah Hauxwell lived and worked at Low Birk Hatt. You'll discover how hay was stored, how livestock were cared for and how traditional farming shaped the meadows that surround the barn today.
Inside Hannah's Barn
The restored stone barn now serves as a small visitor centre where you can learn more about Hannah, traditional upland farming and the history of the meadow. Displays, photographs and interpretation boards help explain how people once lived and worked in this remote part of Teesdale.
Blackton Reservoir Shoreline
The path beside Blackton Reservoir offers some of the finest views on the walk. Surrounded by hills, stone walls and open countryside, it is one of the most peaceful stretches of shoreline in Teesdale.
Who Was Hannah Hauxwell?
Hannah Hauxwell became one of Britain's best known farmers after a documentary filmed at Low Birk Hatt in the 1970s introduced her story to the nation.
Living alone on a remote hill farm without electricity or modern comforts, Hannah became admired for her resilience, independence and deep connection to the landscape around her.
Today, visitors travel from across the country to learn more about her life and to experience the meadows, barns and countryside that she cared for so deeply.
Hannah's story is far bigger than this short walk can ever fully tell.
If you'd like to learn more about her remarkable life at Low Birk Hatt, the television documentaries that made her famous and why she became one of the most loved figures in Teesdale, we've created a dedicated guide exploring her story in much greater detail.
Visit Hannah's Barn
Many visitors are surprised to discover that Hannah's Barn is more than just a restored farm building. Inside you'll find displays explaining Hannah Hauxwell's life, traditional upland farming methods, historic photographs and information about the flower rich meadows surrounding the barn.
The exhibits help tell the story of how Hannah lived and worked at Low Birk Hatt, providing valuable context for the landscape visitors see today.
Best Time to Visit Hannah's Meadow
The most famous time to visit is late June and early July when the meadow is filled with wildflowers and colour.
However, every season offers something different. Spring brings fresh growth and returning birdlife. Summer provides the best wildflower displays. Autumn adds rich colours across the valley, while winter creates a quiet and peaceful landscape where the reservoirs, hills and open skies become the main attraction.
Personally, our favourite time is early morning. Watching the first light reach the reservoir and surrounding hills gives the whole area a calm atmosphere that perfectly suits Hannah's Meadow.
Wildlife and Wildflowers
Hannah's Meadow is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its importance for wildlife and traditional hay meadow plants.
During summer the fields can contain species such as yellow rattle, ragged robin, globe flower and wood crane's-bill. The surrounding landscape also supports curlew, skylark, lapwing and other upland birds that have become increasingly rare elsewhere.
Even if you don't know the names of the flowers or birds, you'll notice that the meadow feels different. There is a richness and variety here that reflects decades of careful management and traditional farming.
These traditional hay meadows have become increasingly rare across Britain, making Hannah's Meadow one of the most important surviving examples in County Durham.
A Place to Slow Down
There are bigger walks in Teesdale and there are certainly more dramatic ones.
Yet we keep returning to Hannah's Meadow.
Perhaps it is because Hannah's story is woven into the landscape. Perhaps it is because the reservoirs, meadows and surrounding hills create such a peaceful setting. Or perhaps it is because this walk reminds us what Outdoor Exploring Family has always been about.
Not rushing from one viewpoint to the next. Not worrying about how many miles you've walked. Simply slowing down, noticing the landscape around us and spending time outdoors.
If you find yourself standing quietly beside the reservoir, watching the light change across the hills or listening to the wind moving through the grass, then you're already experiencing the best part of this walk.
Planning Your Visit
Hannah's Meadow is free to visit and open year round. The walk is relatively short, making it suitable for families and anyone looking for a gentle introduction to Baldersdale. There are no toilets or refreshments at the site, so it is worth bringing everything you need before setting off.
Please remember that this is a working farming landscape. Keep dogs under control, leave gates as you find them and stay on the marked paths through the meadow.
Explore More Around Hannah's Meadow
Hannah's Meadow sits in a brilliant little Discover Teesdale cluster. The walk starts from Balderhead Reservoir, but Hannah herself lived beside Blackton Reservoir at Low Birk Hatt, so both reservoirs matter to the story.
If you want to understand the wider landscape, our Balderhead Reservoir guide explains the dam, parking, nearby walks and the open Baldersdale setting. Our Blackton Reservoir page looks at the quieter water beside Hannah's former home, while Cow Green Reservoir gives another powerful example of how Upper Teesdale's reservoirs shaped the valley.
Hannah's life also belongs within the human story of Teesdale. You can read her full life story on our Hannah Hauxwell page, or explore more local figures in our People of Teesdale section. For more places where landscape and history meet, visit our Teesdale History and Heritage hub.