Discovery Guides & Discovery Publishing

Discovery Guides and Discovery Publishing have a long history and association with this wonderful area. Teesdale possesses riches of unique exceptional landforms and heritage, perhaps making it the most complete dale in the country. It has also been said that “Teesdale is where heaven meets earth”. Therefore it has been a privilege and a joy to live and work in this beautiful region.

My ancestors have lived and worked in Teesdale for over 200 years and they can be traced back to the mid-1500s in nearby Weardale and South Tynedale within the North Pennines. In more recent times I personally lived at Forest in Teesdale then Middleton-in-Teesdale from the mid-1970s, before moving the short distance to nearby Lower Weardale.

It has been both interesting and stimulating to live here, particularly when observing the changes in this region over the last three decades. When the first edition of this guide was researched and published some 34 years ago, I was living in Middleton-in-Teesdale and established our first Discovery Guides then Discovery Publishing offices there.

At that time there was no internet for easy investigation, research and verification. This process is now much easier today as a result of this technological development. On the other hand, the loss of the oral tradition, available in the 1970s, is sadly missed. Local residents, then in their 70s and 80s, could remember life in the dale at the end of the C19th and beginning of the C20th. They possessed a wealth of experience and local knowledge and, of personal interest, knew of our family after whom Parkers’ Kilns on Beck Road and Parkers’ Hill at Town Head where they once lived, were named!

Teesdale is a treasure chest beckoning visitors to explore and discover its wealth of attractions. We hope this ‘Explore Teesdale’ and its companion ‘Discover Teesdale’ guide help you enjoy your visit to this remarkable area.

Serving the County Durham Dales of Teesdale and Weardale in North East England.

Telephone: 01388 601222 Mobile: 07971 888001
Email: enquiries@discoveryguides.co.uk Web: www.discoveryguides.co.uk
Discovery Publishing UK Limited, Suite 24, Innovation House, Longfield Road,
South Church Enterprise Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 6XB