Baldersdale

Baldersdale is a dale, or valley, on the east side of the Pennines in England, north of Barnard Castle. Its principal villages are Hury and Briscoe. Baldersdale is part of County Durham.

The River Balder flows through Baldersdale before reaching Cotherstone where it joins the River Tees. The river flows through three reservoirs on the way: Balderhead Reservoir, Blackton Reservoir and Hury Reservoir. Running roughly parallel to Baldersdale to the north is Lunedale.

Baldersdale is an important place for walkers:- Baldersdale Youth Hostel, run by the Youth Hostels Association, was a popular over-night stop on the Pennine Way which passes through the valley. It closed early in 2007.

There are various self-catering holiday cottages situated in the dale, including West Hury and East Briscoe.

A former railway viaduct from the now-closed Barnard Castle to Middleton-in-Teesdale line crosses the River Balder just north of Cotherstone.

Hannah Hauxwell, who became well-known after an ITV documentary about her life in 1973 ("Too Long A Winter"), worked an inherited farm on her own in Baldersdale under very frugal conditions at Birk Hat.