File:Pennine Way approaching the south face of Goldsborough - geograph.org.uk - 1567799.jpg

English: Pennine Way approaching the south face of Goldsborough The Bowes Alternative path of the Pennine Way crosses Cotherstone Moor and makes its way to meet the western alternative at the head of Blackton Reservoir. Although Wainwright laments the quality of the scenery as it passes through derelict Air Ministry land north of Bowes, this is soon past and there is perhaps more interest in the scenery on this route than on the western one. A particular highlight is the south face of Goldsborough, an exposed gritstone outcrop, and good for rock climbing in a dry summer. The Pennine Way walker will usually pass this way on a summer morning on the route from Bowes to a next stop somewhere in Teesdale (we made it to Middleton for lunch when we walked the whole Way in 1974), but low winter light in the late afternoon on a clear day after rain probably lends more drama to the view and the path was no less soggy on our summer walk.