Made up of a small cluster of hamlets and farm dwellings overlooking the reservoirs of Hury, Blackton and Balderhead, Baldersdale branches off Teesdale. Home to Hannah Hauxwell, this lovely settlement rose to fame in the 1970s when Hauxwell was featured on television for single-handedly running her farm from her home which had no running water. Now managed by Durham Wildlife Trust, ‘Hannah’s Meadow’ is an attractive nature reserve. One of the most unspoilt villages in Teesdale – Romaldkirk – is close by and consists of pretty greens, old stone cottages, a beautiful old church and two pubs – one of which won the AA Pub of the Year award for England in 2003. The breathtaking Dales countryside provides some excellent walking and cycling routes whilst the cities of Durham and Newcastle are all within easy driving distance for more cosmopolitan activities.
