We are the Derwentside Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
This walk starts in the old mining town, now market town, and ascends to Dowfold Hill, from which there are good views across to the Cleveland Hills and the North Pennines. You can even make out the elephant trees in Wolsingham as well as a distant Roseberry Topping.
The walk is a mixture of good tracks, fields and a small amount of road through housing. The fields are likely to be a bit squidgy but nothing horrendous.
Crook first appeared as an agricultural village around 1795 although its surrounding districts; Billy Row, Stanley, White Lea and Helmington Row, were established much earlier. 40 years later Crook became a mining village, and thrived as the coal was very close to the surface and soon there were over 20 mines around the Crook area.
In the market place there are three erratics originally found on Dowfold Hill. Actually, before that they were in Borrowdale in the Lake District and moved by galciers.
It is known as the Devil's Stone is made up of three large lumps of igneous rock that were one giant piece - until someone blew it up looking for a diamond that is reputed to be hidden inside.
It is called the Devil’s Stone because it is said if you run seven times around it, the devil himself will appear.
Meet at Crook Market Place. The car park is free with no limitation on hours on a Sunday.
