Long Pasture and Wingates and cows

 Long Pasture and Wingates and cows October 30th

AND MUD

A repeat again but getting out is the important side of things. After a wet and windy week in the UK we are off from the village of Longhorsely in Northumberland.

North on the A1, turn onto the A697, stop for coffee and bacon at Heighley Gate garden centre then on to the village. There is limited parkingif you turn left off the A697 then turn left again, otherwise on the road side.

The map to use is OS Explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth.

                                 Getting ready for the off

We headed west and immediately came to Horsely Toer.

Horsely Tower, early 16th century with pele tower. The top floor was used as an RC chapel in 17th to early 19th century when St Thomas of Canterbury RC church was built. (1841)

After a hundred yards or so we came to  Archie's pond and a good footpath through woodland close to the road.

It didn't look very deep

Leaving the wood some of us crossed a field to Viewlaw farm, walked through the yard and into fields. Some had walked further along the road and crossed a field to the farm but we all met up.

The next two miles were across fields, quite easy going until we reached the village of Wingates.

On the way we passed a friendly herd of cows and some horses.

 Outside what had probably been the old school there was a bench and table and although we had only covered a little over three miles it was Herbie time.

               Apple pies, flapjacks and Mrs A's sweet and savoury.

After a chat with a friendly cyclist and having finished lunch we set off again, going throgh Wingates South Farm and on to Wingates Moor. The moor is used as pasture for cattle, the fields are a bit lumpy and bumpy. At mile 5 we turned south east, passing Rayburn Lake  and crossing a road to Doe Hill Farm. Plenty of young cows kept in semi open sheds.

                          They got quite excited and ran around, perhaps they thought we were bringing food.

Beyond the farm we followed the very straight Linkham Lane, a track, but when we reached a road we turned left, walked the edge of Hare Dean, negotiating several stiles until we found the entrance to the wood. The descent is very steep but somebody has installed a rope next to the earthen steps.

                It reminded some of us of the Yorkshire Wolds walk.

Once in the valley we followed a barely visible footpath through long grass, crossed a road and came to Muckley. A couple of fields and stiles later we arrived at the road to Longhorsely.

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The walk is 10 miles, easy going apart from a couple of Lauder grass fields but a good walk nevertheless. Muddy in places too. And lots of stiles.

Coffe, cheese and stiles

 Coffee,  cheese and stiles. October 16th

It’s been some time since we walked from Stanningto, a. Village a few miles north of Newcastle, just off the A1. There is a large car park next to that well known post walk watering hole the Ridley Arms, free. The walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Morpeth an Blyth, recommended.

Car park next to the Ridley Arms, Stannington. Needs cropping

Once booted and stick adjusted we set off south on what was the A1 main road to Scotland before the dual carriageway A1 replaced it. Soon we were on the footpath alongside the traffic heavy A1 and stayed with it until we turned in at the first entrance to the Blagdon estate, home of the Ridley family.

                   We were not after Bridal attire

From here we followed roads and tracks passing the New Kennels, the Home farm and the delightfully named Bog House until we reached the Northumberland Cheese Company.

                                    No numbers on the lottery this week, again

                                     Late breakfast spot

Having covered almost three miles we stopped for breakfast, the cafe is upstairs but we made use of the tables outside the weather being mild. It used to be possible to watch the cheese makers through a glass sheet in the cafe floor, not sure it’s still there.

Break over we walked to the road, turned right and crossed the young River Blyth over the Bellasis Bridge. It’s very narrow, only one car at a time and a bit tricky for cyclists too as the hump blocks the view.

                                  The baby river Blyth

                               Bellasis Bridge

Just over the bridge we took the footpath on the right to Bellasis Farm, through a wood and headed north across fields.

Meeting a road we turned left, then right then left again towards Middle Duddo.

 Leaving the road we crossed fields and stiles to The Villas. Once a hospital, now an estate of houses it has a single bench, utilised for a Herbie. (Latte tarts, and sweet and savoury from Mrs A).

                    The  Villas and a rucksack

Taking the road east out of The Villas we spotted the footpath on the right taking us for a short time on Catraw Burn and then across or round several fields back to Stannington and the Ridley Arms.

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The walk is about 9.5 miles, easy going but with stiles a plenty, and some gates.

Autumn in Allen Banks

 Autumn in Allen Banks  October 8th

We have chosen this walk today as there is a fair amount of woodland and we want to enjoy the autumn colours. 

To reach the start head west on the A69, just before Bardon Mill turn left for Ridley Hall and follow the narrow road to the National Trust car park. Free to members, £4 (?) to non members. There is a gazebo with information boards and a bench which is handy for booting up. There are toilets too.

The map for the walk is OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.

                         National Trust car park for Allen Banks

A large turnout today: gadgies, Greens and guests invitation XI.

We set off passing the gazebo on a path close to the River Allen then left it to hrad west and uphill across fields to a road  close to Ridley.

Bowes Lyon family. Thanks to them because it is a lovely area.

We turned left on the road then almost immediately turned right on the road to Beltingham. WE didn't visit this pretty village but it is worth a look if only for the Yew tree in the churchyard.

Taking tracks across more fields, with gates and not stiles we reached Shaws farm, having walked the edge of a field with a crop of kale, intended for animal feed apparently.

                                                         Apples!

More track and we were at Wool House and several fields beyond we came to a road, turned left then right on the track to Briarwood Farm.

A donkey jacket, a joke to go down in gadgie lore akin to "You can call me Al"

Close to the farm we found the footpath through Briarwood Banks. A steep and slippery path going downhill through woodland to a footbridge over the River Allen.

                             Bridge at Plankey Mill.

The field at Plankey Mill was once a popular camping site, rough camping, no showers or toilets but still popular. The owners have blocked the entrance with large concrete Lego blocks.

                                    No entance.

 From the bridge we walked across fields next to the river until we reached the entrance to the Allen Banks woods. On previous occasions we have climbed the steep path to the remains of Staward Peel but today we took the footpath on the right which follows the contours through the woodland and eventually emerges above the river .

                       The River Allen near Herbie spot.

At a point which had a good number of natural seats, mainly rocks, and about four and a half miles into the walk, we called a Herbie (Flapjacks, ginger biscuits, apple pies and Mrs A supplied us with sweet and savoury. Greens are not into sharing)

Lunch over we retraced our steps but took the footpath close to the river back to Plankey Mill.

                      Plankey Mill farm, sadly it looks deserted.

We took the road out of Plankey Mill for a short distance then followed the footpath close to the river through Morralee Wood . Leaving the wood we crossed the last field of the day, crossed the Bailey Bridge and were at the car park.

On my old OS map it is marked as a Bailey Bridge. Used in WW2 as quickly assembled crossings 

                                    Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2026

               The walk, a shortened version of our normal outing is 7.5 miles. A couple of climbs and lots of lovely woodland.