Low Force footpath includes stunning verges, with upland haymeadow flowering plants like meadow cranesbill, devil’s-bit scabious and tormentil, as well as the river Tees, wet flushes and riparian trees.

Seasonal highlights

While kidney-spot ladybirds can be found in most months of the year, the site is best visited during summer. Rare tormentil mining bees plus bilberry bumblebees and moss carder bees are found here. Maritime mason wasps visit meadow cranesbill flowers, while clay-coloured weevils hide amongst vegetation and marsh snipeflies use damper areas. Several different galls can be found, such as alder leaf pustule galls, along with alder sawflies and beech leaf mine beetles. Emerging riverflies include summer mayflies and sand fly caddisflies.

• Car parking: Bowlees Visitor Centre, Newbiggin, County Durham, DL12 0XE
• Grid reference: NY 90664 28130
• Survey route length: 1.2 miles
• Terrain: the route follows a bare track with some uneven, damp areas, slippery rocks and stiles. In places, there is a steep drop to the river Tees, which can be fast flowing at times.