Nature Features

The final section of my journey starts at Cow Green reservoir – a two mile long reservoir which was constructed between 1967 and 1971 to supply the industry of Teesside.

The area around the reservoir is part of the Moor House National Nature reserve and up here there is another folklore tale.

The story goes that when Cow Green was constructed it destroyed the habitat of Peg Powler, a grotesque green-haired mermaid of the Tees and it’s claimed that her presence could be indicated by frothy substances on the water known as Peg Powler’s Suds and children were always warned to stay clear as she had quite an appetite for youngsters!

From here the river winds its way into the uplands and gets smaller and narrower with each twist and turn.

The terrain is very beautiful but barren and is really spectacular. It's amazing to think that this water up here goes on to become the mighty and vast river that we see passing through Stockton and out to the coast.

The Tees starts on the side of Cross Fell, not far from where the Pennine Way passes by and it's one of the hardest sections of the walk.

On a map you can find the marker for Tees Head and as I approached Cross Fell the terrain is very moist and boggy which you would expect from an area with so much natural peat.

The river at this point is no more than 30 to 50 cm wide and is more of a trickle.

Reaching the source there is a marker stone and some really great sound as the river trickles under some stones, into a pool and then onwards down stream heading towards Cow Green.

The view is breath taking and from this vantage point at the source I can see the river twisting through the valley basin and into Cow Green and way off in the distance I can see Teesdale.