Day 1 of YNU Weekend in Upper Teesdale 1-2 Aug 2026

Join me as I go from Settle up to Upper Teesdale for a two day meeting with the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union to Upper Teesdale.

When I first worked at Malham Tarn over 45 years ago, I read a paper comparing the special vegetation communities found at Malham area, Upper Teesdale and Ben Lawers.  So I was keen to see more of Upper Teesdale. (Especially Arctic Alpine plants found in basic flush communities)

Day1 -Yorkshire Day (1 Aug) was a walk beside and above High Force on the "Old Yorkshire" side of the River Tees  - VC 65. The north side is  County Durham  (VC 66)  

The previous evening I had returned from the British Lichen Society Field Meeting in Worcestershire. - all the way to Settle.

Both Settle and Middleton-in-Teesdale are near the water divide of the Pennine ridge. I set off on my journey north from Settle, up the Ribble to Ribblehead, then following the tops of the Pennines via Hawes  then up the Ure (which flows east) up over the tops to the top of the Eden Valley the Eden - which flows west, then over from Brough to Middleton and the Tees which flows east.

The picture below has Wild Boar Fell on the left, Mallerstang on the right and the valley leads down to Kirkby Stephen with Brough beyond. Brough is at the foot of the pale hills you see in the distance topped by white clouds.  This photo was taken at 9.23am and I was supposed to be at High Force, Middleton-in-Teesdale, 18 miles over the tops beyond Brough by before 10.30..   but what splendid views..

View down the Eden Valley

I met the part of the group that had not yet set off. I presumed the moth catchers had long finished their work.

I followed the people at my own pace,  sampling the raspberries on the way.

This ia a view point of High Force - only one side had water today.

It is worth enlarging this picture (maybe press (control +) to read about the geology). 

The group had continued to the section above the waterfall, and were having lunch

Acid loving lichens including Map Lichen (green)  (Rhizocarpon geographicum)

Kian (right) is looking at Lichens and Jackson (third from Left)  is looking at Mosses.

Alastair exploring on the left.

Lunch

A spider in Andy's jar.

There were excellent flush communities to explore. I just show a picture of the rare Variegated Horsetail  Equisetum variegatum here.  It  does grow in a few flushes round Settle too (well Malham) - but it is good to have a picture to remind myself of points about it:- the stems creep; the black scales round the stem have long white points. and there are papillae on the stem.

There were a mixture of acid loving and base loving plants. 

I spent much of the time with Ian and Stella,  making a list of sedges.  All too soon it was time to return..

Across the Wynch Bridge

Wynch Bridge

In Middleton-in-Teesdale we had the customary plenary tea and reporting session.

We then had fish and chips on a bench outside the local fish and chip shop in Middleton in Teesdale.- I had fish bites -  A small piece of fish cut up and the bits fried separately - They were EXCELLENT - And I saved half which I ate for lunch the following day, in the shade of a junipoer bush next to a pleasant flush.

People returned home. I was lucky to find space and treat myself to stay at in the Langdon Beck Hotel, with Ian and Stella.

After the meal Ian took us up for a drive to Cow Green Reservoir.

We watched sunset over Dunn Fell and Cross Fell. 

Just four month's earlier I had been on the top of Great Dunn Fell and Little Dunn Fell, looking down to Cow Green Reservoir with the British Lichen Society. 

Here is a picture taken then, on 13 April 2026 at 11.07am with the Lichen Society. See the reservoir in the distance. Me on the left. Philippa in the centre.

And the same rock from a different angle:-

I try and play a tune on the top of each mountain peak... Meanwhile the others lichenise

   

~However on 1Aug 2026  it was getting darker

So we returned, stopping to look at owls on the way.

I slept well.

I got up at 6am for a walk - to see more of the Hotel at Langdon Beck.. 

We had breakfast. I bought a copy of Margaret Bradshaw's book, and a copy of  Lost Weardale Farms.. with a mention of 

View towards the Whin Sill beyond the window sill a
nd my two new books in the foreground

but now it is time to leave the Langdon Beck Hotel and go and meet the others at Holwick for Day 2.