From Harwood, it is a long way across bleak terrain to Cross Fell, and this is probably outside the scope of the guide - unless we get a good winter and I go and do it :-)

There is a good tour suitable for light touring gear on marginal snow cover from Harwood on the track (public footpath) leading to the road end at Cow Green (the author has skied this several times when the fells appeared to be clear of snow). This could be continued to Cauldron Snout. Any attempt to follow the Pennine Way downstream into Teesdale would involve long stretches without skis crossing treacherous rocks. It should be possible, however, to cut across Widdybank Fell (no right of way) to rejoin the Pennine Way just before Widdy Bank Farm. In better snow cover over frozen ground, the almost flat hill to the east of Cow Green reservoir has peat hags in which the depressions hold snow well, and provide some very easy and entertaining skiing with something of the appeal of Hampton Court maze.

More sensible, if the fells really are frozen, continue from Cauldron Snout towards Birkdale, until a crossing can be made of Maize Beck (no bridge) and then skirt Black Hill to join the bridleway on the south of the Tees. If snow is low enough, either the path to Forest in Teesdale or the bridleway to Holwick could prove fun, with an option to cross onto the Pennine Way and exit at Low Force. However, if there is enough snow to do this, the Harwood road would almost certainly be blocked, so you might need to start at Cow Green or even Langdon Beck.

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