Walk, River Tees 1 (Stockton-on-Tees)

Walk, River Tees 1 (Stockton-on-Tees), Approximately 3 mile or 4.7 kilometres

This walk can be done in conjunction with Walk, River Tees 2 (Newport Bridge) for longer six mile walk if required.

We set off from the White Water Caravan Club Site and crossed over the Tees Barrage, but you can use any of the car parks on the north or south side of the river Tees next to the Barrage.

From the Tees Barrage we headed west along Navigation Way and followed the cycle/footpath along the river towards the new footbridge and Stockton town centre (some of the photos are from the construction of the new bridge).

As we get to the university buildings, we come to the first obstacle there is an inlet cut into the river bank that we have to walk around. After this we walked under the new bridge (you could just cross back over here for a shorter walk or you can cross and do a figure of eight walk).

Then its round another of these manmade inlets for boats, although it looks like there has never been a boat in there. After this just as we think we are at the Princes Dianne bridge and can cross over the river, the path turns left and follows a canal leading to another manmade basin and a footbridge.

We cross over the bridge and follow the canal to the right and back to the river, where we turn right again and head for the millennium footbridge.

HM Bark Endeavour, a full size replica of the Whitby built collier, used by Captain Cook on his journeys of exploration, is on the opposite bank at this point.

We have to walk around another inlet before we get to the millennium footbridge and cross over the Tees, to the Castlegate Shopping Centre.

Here there are toilets, cafés, shops, etc but it is market day and very busy, so we just turn right inside, walk through the centre to other side, come out and head to the right down Finkle street to Riverside. Then its left, to cross over the main road Riverside vie another footbridge and along the riverside, towards the Princes Dianne bridge. Looking back, there is a nice view along the river.

From there it is a straight walk along the north bank of the river, back under the new bridge, to the white water course and the barrage.

Back at the barrage and white water course, if you want a beer or meal at the end of your walk, there is a pub, The Talpore, at the top of the hill on the north side of the barrage.