Harwood-in-Teesdale is a superb example of upland haymeadow and flower-rich wet grassland. The Harwood beck flows alongside, with river shingle and riparian trees.  

Seasonal highlights

Flowering plants, such as devil’s-bit scabious, knapweeds and great burnet, are the dominant feature of this site, making mid to late summer the best time to visit. Rare broken-belted bumblebees, moss carder bees and bilberry bumblebees are all found at this site. The flowers here are also an important resource for flies, with species including common snout hoverflies, blotch-winged droneflies and yellow-faced blowflies. Meanwhile, the beck supports grannom caddisflies and small silver sedge caddisflies.

• Car parking: lay-by, near Langdon Beck Hotel, B6277, County Durham, DL12 0XP
• Grid reference: NY 85321 31186
• Survey route length: 0.4 miles
• Terrain: the route follows a rough footpath, with steep, uneven and slippery areas. Parts of the footpath and next to a steep cliff. Livestock is sometimes present in the field above the cliff.