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Overview
Deepdale lies on the west side of the town and River Tees a short distance upstream from the castle. A public footpath runs it's length. The first mile is a deep narrow valley with mature mixed woodland covering the sides. The valley floor is mostly open blanketed by low ground cover. Deepdale Beck flows west to east until it meets with the River Tees. The first mile has a flat wide (2m) metalled tracked. After a mile you reach a Ford and footbridge at Raygill Beck. Public footpaths continue up the valley but are much narrower as they lead through dense woodland.
Birds
Notable Species
Whilst any time of year is worth a visit, the best times are winter and spring through to early summer as viewing is very good until leaves and vegetation become too dense.
Late April - May - early June are the best times to visit for spring arrivals such as Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wood Warbler and Garden Warbler.
Other regulars throughout the year are Dipper, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard are regular overhead sightings. In previous days it used to be one of the best locations in County Durham for seeing Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - now sadly very hard to find.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Common Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Redstart, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Northern Redpoll, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Eurasian Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Tawny Owl, Chaffinch
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
The town is a pleasant location to visit any time of the year - as is Deepdale. It's sheltered location makes it ideal for both visitors and wildlife.
Access and Facilities
Barnard Castle is a delightful market town at the entrance to Teesdale in County Durham. The town is on the A67 around 14 miles west of Darlington and the A1. The River Tees loops around the town in a horseshoe bend. The town lies at the centre of numerous country walks. There are plenty of shops in the town and ample car parking - mostly free.On entering the town, head for the 'Post Office corner' and turn along - Flatts Road passing between the Post Office and a small park with a monkey puzzle tree. Follow to it's end then dog-leg left and right into Raby Avenue and park up. There is loads of parking available along both roadsides or in the town centre.
Walk back to the dog-leg in the road and take the metalled road down a slight bank and on reaching the edge of the woods after a few yards turn right again and head down the hill. Many birds and squirrels feed freely in this section. The bungalow immediately on the right has a bird table and all manner of birds make use of it. Follow the path down to the river checking the mature trees for birds. All the normal woodland species can be found either here or in Deepdale.
At the bottom of the hill you'll see a bridge across the river, locally known as the 'pipebridge' a wide footbridge - the timber decking covering water pipes makes an ideal spot to sit a while. Downstream you have good views of the castle and a weir. Upstream the river is straight for just over a mile. Kingfisher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail are regulars and in Spring Common Sandpiper and Spotted Flycatcher often give close views as do Swift, Swallow and Martin. Looking upstream check out the area of stones on the right. Wagtail and Dipper frequently feed there as well.
Crossing the bridge pause before descending the steps as the trees on either dise often contain dozens of birds of several different species, giving excellent views.
Descend the steps and walk to the road, turning left and then immediately right crossing the road and passing through a white gate. You have now entered Deepdale Woods. This is a small valley carrying a tributary of the River Tees which begins life a few miles upstream in the Pennines. Don't be deceived by it's small size, it regularly spates and the valley floor can be flooded. The whole of these woods, for about a mile are a haven for a myriad of bird species.
Starting off at the entrance watch out for Treecreeper to your left. Blackcap to your left and right. Wagtail and Dipper on the stones of the stream bed. Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are common throughout the length. Into May and Bullfinch are often seen on the thorn bushes as the flower buds are ready to burst. Several dead trees can be seen on your left as you follow the well made track through the valley floor. These trees normally hold Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, though no nesting birds have been seen since 2003. Great Spotted Woodpecker are fairly common, though Blue Tit and Starling seem to have taken over the nesting holes. Always be on the lookout for Kestrel and Sparrowhawk perched in the trees as they seem to like hunting along the valley floor.
The path runs for about a mile until you reach a ford, upstream from which there is a foot bridge over a small beck that leads from Raygill. This is a wooded valley with several sites for roosting/nesting Owls and again the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, though they are all very difficult to spot.
From the bridge you can either retrace your steps back through the valley bottom (advised) or take the path that heads up the left valley side and leads you back to the road and the pipe bridge. This path can give closer views of the birds as you overlook the trees, but you are in the main looking into the sun. Towards the top of the path Green Woodpecker can occasioanlly be seen. I have had my closest views ever of them in the wood edge.
Retrace you steps across the bridge and back up the hill.
External Links
To do
