The North Pennines: Landscape and Legend

Alston

South Tynedale

The main settlement in South Tynedale is the unique cobbled town of Alston, clustered together as an eclectic group of buildings on a hill where the South Tyne and Nent rivers meet. The wider parish is named as Alston Moor, long renowned for its valuable minerals, and the source for the royal 'Silver Mines of Carlisle'. Amongst other local dignitaries, the names of Westgarth Forster and William Wallace live on because of their role in chronicling the great mining boom days of the 18th and 19th century. At the head of the valley is the brooding mass of Cross Fell, traversed by the long-distance trail of the Pennine Way, which follows the 'old corpse road' down from the Cashwells Mines to the lovely village of Garrigill. The upper part of the South Tyne also has a series of attractive streams and gorges including Ash Gill, Tynehead Force, Nattrass Gill and Thorter Gill.

Similarly, the Nent valley has a long history of mining, now well-exhibited at the Nenthead Mine Centre. The unusual village of Nenthead itself owes its origin to being established by the London Lead Company as a model settlement. Now that the industry has gone, the valley has returned to its previous tranquil state, with much fine scenery as well as the old mine relics, including the attractive waterfalls of the Seven Sisters and Skelgill Force near to Alston.

Lambley Viaduct

Downvalley of Alston, the South Tynedale railway shuttles its leisurely journey to and from Kirkhaugh, but formerly the valley railway acted as a link with the rest of the network at Haltwhistle. This has left a magnificent monument to the railway age at Lambley Viaduct, a landmark recently restored by the North Pennines Heritage Trust . This part of the valley, with its 'eals' and 'haughs' is very attractive and includes the Roman Fort at Whitley Castle and the charming settlements at Slaggyford and Knarsdale. Downstream of the viaduct are the historic features of Featherstone Castle and Bellister Castle before the river makes its great sweep eastwards near the old market town of Haltwhistle. To the west are the old mining and quarrying villages of Tindale, Hallbankgate and Halton-Lea-Gate, with the frowning slopes of Cold Fell above and the attractive waters of Tindale Tarn nearby.