Bogg House (x2!)

'This small loop of poorly surfaced public road boasts two fords. The south-easterly one is the smaller and shallower, about 15ft across. The north-westerly one has a fierce hump to cross when entered from the SE, and is more substantial. Both have roughish gravel bottoms.'

'An Irish bridge on a remote stretch of gated road.'

East Hope (x3!)

'A road for the adventurous! 3 fords in quick succession. The first is full-time and 1-2" deep. The approach road is tarmac but washed away. Next (Image 2) is this shallow full-timer with a tarmac base. Finally, Image 3 shows a part-time moorland watercourse.'

'It’s a concrete ford through the River Wear. Its depth varies considerably throughout teh year. Even though the ford itself would be suitable for anything at low flows, ordinary cars may still encounter problems on entry and exit, as the access is rather rocky and muddy. There’s a road bridge alongside.'

Hamsterley (x3!)

'Firstly, there’s an Irish bridge, pictured in both dry and wet conditions (Image 1). There’s no warning signs or depth gauge.

There’s another Irish bridge upstream from the first (Image 2). Again there’s no warning signs or depth gauge.

Then there’s a small Irish bridge with a similarly small footbridge on the cul-de-sac that leads to Podgehole (Image 3).'

Hamsterley Forest (x4!)

'The first ford is at the entrance to the Blackling Hole car park, alongside a road bridge. The base is of large stones cobbled together with the natural rocks and is quite uneven. The entrance/exits are rocky and steep. The depth is about six inches. (Image 1)

The next ford is behind the mansion, Grove House, in the middle of the forest. It has a rough stony base and is about eight inches deep. (Image 2)

The third ford is this strange concrete structure channels the water into a deeper flow than would otherwise be the case. It’s about six inches deep and is on a private forest road. (Image 3)

The final ford is rough bottomed, you need to get out and have a look! (Image 4).'

'There were only a few centimetres of water in the stream yesterday (Sunday), but a good 70 cm would be needed for the water to flow over the ford/bridge. Well worth a visit, if only for the stunning countryside!'

www.geograph.org.uk

'Ford is about 3 inches, concrete bottom and stepping stones just off main road on road into lead mining centre.'

'The ford is located on a single track road off the B6274 not far from Selaby Hall. This ford is cobble based and is suitable to all vehicles but only 4x4 after heavy rain. The entrance/exit is tarmac. The ford has a steady flow rate and is always in water. Adjacent to the ford is a narrow bridge that can take pedestrians and vehicles up to 3 tonnes (if you chicken out!).'

'Irish Bridge on the road to Cow Green Reservoir, near the top of Teesdale. Worth a look if you are passing, the moors up here are so big and bleak.'

'Definitely 4x4 only, this is on Unclassified road number 23.9 so is still a vehicular Right of Way. It crosses the Middle Hope Valley, a tributary of the River Wear, presumably an access road to the old mine entrance on the east side of the ford.'

'Only a mile from Westgate Ford, and a very similar ford across the Wear, except that it has stepping stones on the upstream side, as well as a high bridge on the downstream.'

'The old coach road to Barnard Castle left the market and mining town of Stanhope through a 50-yard ford across the rushing River Wear. Although the modern B6278 crosses a bridge half a mile upstream, the ford is still used by local traffic, and now has asphalt approaches, a setted bottom and stepping stones on the upstream side, which also regulate the water flow. It nevertheless remains a daunting prospect for the timid, especially if there's a strong spate and the water level is creeping up towards and beyond the tops of the stepping stones, which equates to about a foot depth at road level.

Since 1993, Stanhope Ford has been one of the notable hazards of LE JOG (the Land's End to John o'Groats Reliability Trial). The test here requires competitors to start from a line on the south shore, drive through the ford to stop astride a line on the north ramp, switch off and restart their engine, and drive a car's length forward to a second line. Time allowed for the whole operation: 30 seconds. Many do it!'

Ford & Stepping Stones
http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk


PLEASE NOTE: STANHOPE FORD WAS SUBJECT TO A PROHIBITION OF DRIVING ORDER FROM 1ST OCTOBER TO MARCH 31ST EACH YEAR. PRESS RELEASE HERE:
Press Release.

NOTE: Although barriers have been erected to prevent motorists from straying into the ford during adverse conditions (Image 4 Sent in by John Brown), the local council has now closed the ford permanently.

Link to geograph

'A concrete Irish bridge takes two streams, which then meet, under the road. There’s a footbridge in the undergrowth.'

'Excellent setted ford across the River Wear, about six inches deep, with high bridge on downstream side, about 30 feet across. Ford signs.'

Also has a very unusual sign!

'A long ford across the mighty River Wear, to be crossed only with great care. I came across it by accident (honestly!), because it is not marked on the OS Landranger maps, which give priority to the adjacent railway viaduct. Looks like a concrete surface in Image 1 (Taken in 1996).'

Info from Mike Calverley:
'Myself and some other members of the L200 owners club had a look at Witton Park ford the other day and it can no longer be driven. There is a steel post set in the ground at one end and large boulders on the ford at the other end plus a 10 foot mud bank with a fence on top of it, where they have rebuilt the footpath. You can go through it on a motorbike but alas 4 wheelers are no more (Image 3).'