Teesdale to Alston

The highest B-road in England, the B6277, climbing from Middleton-in-Teesdale across the bleak North Pennine roof to Alston, England's highest market town.

The B6277 is reckoned the highest B-road in Britain, topping out near 1,965ft as it crosses the empty North Pennines. From Middleton-in-Teesdale it follows the upper Tees past the High Force and Cauldron Snout country, climbs through Langdon Beck and over the watershed at Yad Moss, then descends the South Tyne valley to Alston, often called England's highest market town. It is a heavily undulating two-lane road with some genuinely steep pitches, fine sightlines and almost no traffic, run through some of the bleakest and most beautiful upland in England. Mind severe dips and crests that hide oncoming vehicles, ice and lying snow on the high watershed even in spring, and sheep straying onto the unfenced moor sections.