Dream Walking in Lockdown

 Dream Walking.. January 17th

   The country is in lockdown again. Government advice is that we stay home except for essential shopping and exercise, which we may take from home but only once a day. Consequently gadgie walks are temporarily suspended, as are pub quizzes, and indeed the pub. Because of this I've decided to revisit a few favourite walks again and this one is a circular stroll from Blanchland.

Blanchland is a village in south Northumberland. In 1165 the Premonstratensians canons started an abbey there. In 1539 the abbey was dissolved by you know who. In the 18th century the Crewe Trustees brought the place back to life, the village contains many of the walls from the abbey in the houses and the church and the Lord Crewe Arms.

The village church, St. Mary the Virgin, was rebuilt from abbey ruins and contains walls and a tower dating back to the 12th century, with lots of bits added on.

From Newcastle go west on the A69, turn south at the A68 and turn right at Kiln Pit Hill.

The village of Blanchland is on the edge of OS OL 43 Hadrians Wall, most of the walk is on it but a bit is on OS Explorer 307 Consett and Derwent Water.

Of course we are out in force today, a gaggle of gadgies, wrapped against the cold of January.

There is a car park in Blanchland, turn tight as you enter the village and you are there. It has an honesty box for parking fees.

                             Blanchland car park

                   The old village school. Now the White Monks Tea Room. Five stars.

Having consumed bacon or sausage sandwiches, washed down with tea or coffee we set off, passing the village church and turning right towards Baybridge.

                                        St. Mary the Virgin church, Blanchland.

The road to Baybridge is on OS 307 but you can manage without it. There is a car park at Baybridge too, should you wish to start from there. Beyond Baybridge, and heading west the road becomes a track, passing Newbiggin House, rebuilt in Neo-Classical style in 1906 after a fire.

                            Newbiggin House

Beyond Newbiggin the track follows contours through plantations and open fields to Riddlehamhope which is at GR911499 approximately and is in a state of disrepair. It does however make an excellent Herbie Spot.

Having a full turn out made it a fine feast. Biscuits, flapjacks, slices from Mr Kipling, mini apple pies and cake from Mrs A.

                          Lunchtime at Riddlehamhope

Having eaten too much we moved on along the track going west before turning in a north west direction. At this point there is a choice. Walkers can take the track off to the right which is the Carriers Way and crosses Birkside fell to re-join our walk on Burntshieldhaugh Fell or, as we did, head north on a tour of isolated farms.

The first farm we came to was Harwood Shield. Beyond the farm the path dips down and crosses Stobbylee Burn before climbing gently to Stobby Lea and then east to Steel. At Steel we headed north to Hesleywell farm and from there the walk begins to turn slowly back to the start, calling at Burnshield Haugh.

              I should carry a notebook or make notes on my phone. These three farms are:Harwood, Steel and Hesleywell, but I can't remember which is which.

There are several tracks crossing the moors in this area, some serving the shooting butts that are lined up to offer defence against the grouse. The track we followed heads east, crossing the Carriers Way before turning south to Pennypie House.

Pennypie house acquired its name by selling pies at that price to men on  one of the Carriers Ways

At Pennypie there are two tracks, take the right one back to Baybridge or the one we took to Blanchland. This part of the walk follows the long distance "A Pennine Journey" walk, devised in 1938 by Alfred Wainwright. It is a circular walk, not to be confused with the equally impressive but linear Pennine Way.

The road back to Blanchland is through what was an area of lead mining.

                   The Engine House at Shildon and the information boards that detail he mining in the area.

 Soon we were back in Blanchland and having changed etired to the Lord Crewe Arms for refreshment.

Of course it had Timothy Taylor's Landlord on tap, plus one or two other beers.

 Blanchland is in Northumberland, on the border with Durham. The coat of arms incorporates the Durham Lions, "A strongly United Force" is my guess at the motto but corrections accepted.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2021

And a few pictures of pretty Blanchland;