23 stirling falls of dochart

Stefan Durkacz traces an old rail route on a superb full-day walk

■ Distance: 5¼ miles/8.3km ■ Time: 2½ hours ■ Grade: Easy

■ Distance: 6 miles/9.7km ■ Time: 2½-3hours ■ Grade: Easy

■ Distance: 7½ miles/12km ■ Time: 4-5 hours ■ Grade: Challenging

Three contrasting walks to discover the ever-changing terrains encircling the Borrowdale valley and village of Rosthwaite in the Lake District .

THE area where the River Tees approaches the sea has been largely industrial in recent times, but the upper stretch of the river is very different in character. Here, while the villages, hamlets and r