River Balder
Encyclopedia
The Balder is an English
river that rises on the eastern slope of Stainmore Common in the Pennine Chain
and flows eastwards for about 13 miles (21 km) to the River Tees
at Cotherstone
.
The River Balder is in County Durham
. The head of the valley is a bleak moorland, with hills around it exceeding 500 m (1640 ft).
The River Balder enters Balderhead Reservoir about 7 km from the source, at around 330 m (1080 ft). It spills into two more reservoir
s further down Baldersdale
: Blackton Reservoir and Hury Reservoir.
The scenery becomes gentler as it descends past Baldersdale Youth Hostel
. The distinctive flat peak of Goldsborough
to the south is passed before the valley begins to open out as the river enters Blackton Reservoir at around 280 m (920 ft).
The course of the valley carries on at a virtually exactly east direction as the River Balder enters Hury Reservoir at about 260 m (850 ft), passing the village of Hury
which lies to the north.
The river now begins to twist and turn and is crossed by the Balder Railway Viaduct, which was used by the Barnard Castle
to Middleton-in-Teesdale
railway line before it was closed.
It finally joins the River Tees
at Cotherstone
, at a height of about 160 m (520 ft).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
river that rises on the eastern slope of Stainmore Common in the Pennine Chain
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
and flows eastwards for about 13 miles (21 km) to the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
at Cotherstone
Cotherstone
Cotherstone is a village and civil parish in the Pennine hills, in Teesdale, County Durham, England.Cotherstone lies within the historic county boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire, but along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for...
.
The River Balder is in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. The head of the valley is a bleak moorland, with hills around it exceeding 500 m (1640 ft).
The River Balder enters Balderhead Reservoir about 7 km from the source, at around 330 m (1080 ft). It spills into two more reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s further down Baldersdale
Baldersdale
Baldersdale is a dale, or valley, on the east side of the Pennines in England, north of Barnard Castle. Its principal settlements are Hury and Briscoe. Baldersdale lies within the traditional boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire...
: Blackton Reservoir and Hury Reservoir.
The scenery becomes gentler as it descends past Baldersdale Youth Hostel
YHA
YHA may refer to:* YHA Australia, a youth hostel association in Australia* Youth Hostels Association , a youth hostel charity in the United Kingdom* Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, a youth hostel association in New Zealand...
. The distinctive flat peak of Goldsborough
Goldsborough, England
Goldsborough is a hill in the Pennines, the range of hills and moors running down the middle of Northern England. It is 388 m high. It lies east of the main watershed of the Pennines, about two miles south of Hury in Baldersdale. It lies in County Durham and within the historic borders of...
to the south is passed before the valley begins to open out as the river enters Blackton Reservoir at around 280 m (920 ft).
The course of the valley carries on at a virtually exactly east direction as the River Balder enters Hury Reservoir at about 260 m (850 ft), passing the village of Hury
Hury
Hury is a village in Baldersdale, in the Pennines of England. It was historically located in the North Riding of Yorkshire but along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for administrative and ceremonial purposes on 1 April 1974, under the...
which lies to the north.
The river now begins to twist and turn and is crossed by the Balder Railway Viaduct, which was used by the Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is an historical town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne, south southwest of Sunderland, west of Middlesbrough and ...
to Middleton-in-Teesdale
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Middleton-in-Teesdale is a small market town in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the north side of Teesdale between Eggleston and Newbiggin, a few miles to the north west of Barnard Castle...
railway line before it was closed.
It finally joins the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
at Cotherstone
Cotherstone
Cotherstone is a village and civil parish in the Pennine hills, in Teesdale, County Durham, England.Cotherstone lies within the historic county boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire, but along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for...
, at a height of about 160 m (520 ft).