BACK on the road again this month, I went off to Middleton-in-Teesdale for a walk with my wheels. A bright morning welcomed me as I approached up the dale for my planned meeting with Judith Mashiter.

Judith is the co-ordinator and manager of the Tourist Information Centre in Middleton. This is a community-based trust which is actively working to improve access to visitors and locals in and around the village. I had been invited to share with her some ideas on how usefully to develop the service, as Judith herself put it, "so that people of all capabilities may enjoy much of what Middleton has to offer".

Located in the Market Place, the centre is easy to find with plenty of parking spaces to be found nearby on the street or near the fountain on Hill Terrace. The pavement leading to the centre has been recently re-laid, providing a smooth run with plenty of dropped kerbs for wheelchair users, and any roads needing to be crossed are generally quiet with light, slow-moving traffic. Entry to the centre is level and staff are on hand to help from the desk close by the door should you experience any difficulties.

After a fruitful chat putting the world of disabled access to rights, it was time to get out and about. Judith was keen for me to try a route from one of the village Walkabout series. The leaflets- "a guide to a one-hour walk covering just over a mile" - produced by Durham County Council include some excellent background information.

My job was to fill in the extra details and, by adapting the leaflet where necessary, provide the information needed by visitors with disabilities to have an equally interesting day out. Here is my adapted version.

The walk starts from the centre of town where the roads from Alston, Barnard Castle and Brough meet.

Beginning at the fountain, take a break around the smart, revamped seating area. From this point you can get your bearings, make use of the nearby disabled toilet (RADAR key required - £3 deposit from Tourist Information) and admire the cast iron fountain that acts as a memorial to the benefits brought by the lead company.

There are no convenient dropped kerbs for crossing here, but the road is very quiet and, if you can manage it, the benefits are worth it. You are rewarded with a small parade of shops - including C&A newsagents with its level entry and friendly staff, who are happy to open doors - where essential stocks can be bought.

On this side of Horsemarket, the pavement is newly laid and a fine surface to move along. Just past the Methodist Chapel on the left is Wesley Terrace. This quiet tarmac lane leads to a smashing play area where any children in your party can let off steam while you catch your breath for the next stage.

Back on Horsemarket and heading northwards, you pass the Co-op which is useful as a source of cash through the cashback method as there are no cash machines in the village. On reaching the former Primitive Methodist Chapel, head right by crossing the road and heading for Masterman Terrace.

Using the road (the pavements are too narrow here, but the roads are very quiet) pass under the ornamental arch that marks the beginning of New Town - originally a model housing estate developed by the lead company. It would be unwise to venture any further along this road unless you are fit, have access to help or have a motorised wheelchair.

The gradient soon increases as the road heads recklessly for the River Tees. Then, the path suggested in the leaflet takes you along the river bank, which is beautiful, but the surface is a random mixture of now cobbles, now tarmac, often mud. The simplest suggestion is to retrace your steps back to the fountain in readiness for the trail through the southern end of Middleton.

Staying on the west side of the road avoids the busy junction with Bridge Street and keeps you on the newly-paved surface on the approach to Market Place. On the right is the Country Style Bakery which has level entry, tasty food, a tea room, packed-lunch service and handy toilets. The toilets here are reasonably accessible insofar as it is possible to get very close in a wheelchair, but some will welcome just a little extra help.

Passing the Tourist Information Centre, head for the dropped kerb just before the Teesdale Hotel and cross the road past the imposing Raby Estates office and the King's Head. The road begins to descend towards the bridge over Hudeshope Beck so this would be a good point to pause if you are beginning to tire. Otherwise an energetic stretch with narrow pavements awaits, but with some delightful views up The Hude and along the beck.

I crossed the road immediately after crossing the beck and reached the bench at the foot of the hill up The Hude to gather my strength while enjoying the view of a delightful mixture of slate and stone slab roofs, unusual trees and pretty gardens.

This walk took me two hours. One hour each for the Horsemarket and Market Place sections with a half hour meal break in the middle. I used my wheelchair but there were plenty of benches for people who could walk with sticks. The inclines are all gentle but a power-scooter would make the inclines that I carefully avoided more feasible, thus increasing the range of your walk.

Combining Walkabout leaflet number six with these notes, we hope that you can enjoy much of what Middleton has to offer. I did.

FACTFILE

Tourist Information Centre, 10 Market Place, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co. Durham, DL12 0QG Tel: (01833) 641001

Durham County Council, Countryside Section, Environment Department, County Hall, DURHAM, DH1 5UQ - for comments on the leaflet.

Published: 21/05/2002