Gadgie Walks: Back to Riding Mill

It was a muddy day, every cloud was in the sky.

(Northumberland) March 4th

TRIPLE MUD WARNING!

Four of us out today on what we have been told will be wet and cold until late afternoon when it will be only cold. The walk starts from the village of Riding Mill: west on A69, turn off at Corbridge roundabout and follow the signs for about four miles. Call in at Brockbushes Farm shop and cafe on the roundabout though, great place.

Four of us out today, numbers reduced by weather and family commitments. We are: Brian, Margaret, John H and me.

The walk, though relatively short is on three OS maps:

OS Explorer 316, Newcastle upon Tyne, OS 307 Consett and OL43 Hadrian's Wall.

There is a car park in the old school playground close to St James' church which is an 19th century building.

Parking in Riding Mill. Old school in the background.

St James' Riding Mill.

The walk is well marked with the usual little yellow arrows.

Walking past the church we climbed a road lined with detached homes before turning off into a muddy field through which we continued to climb until we reached High Plains. (Mile 1) No sign of Clint Eastwood but a couple of fields were laid out for equestrian events.

Walking in front of the house we soon came to the first wood of the day. A very muddy footpath arced through the wood which also had a few downed trees to negotiate until we came to a road. (Mile 2)

Crossing the road we entered a field (mark 158 0n OS map) before entering the second wood of the day and followed another muddy footpath downhill to March Burn, crossed by a footbridge, and then climbed up the other side of the valley to a road (Point 123).

There has been a lot of rain recently........................

Going left and heading west we soon came to a sign post on the right (Mile 3 and a little bit) which sent us off to Todburn Steel and the third wood of the day., Dipton Wood.

The track through Dipton Wood was relatively mud free and a tumble down wall made a satisfactory Herbie Spot. (Just after mile 4) We shared apple pies, flapjacks and Mrs A brought a savoury cake and vegan apple cake.

Fairly dry and mud free in Dipton Wood.

Lunch over we continued north to a road, turned left and walked the tarmac to the next junction. (Mile 5)

here we turned right towards West Farm but went through a fine gate on the left hand side, across a field and into another section of Dipton Wood.

A fine gateway, entered from the other side.

The path here was as muddy as any today and to add to the difficulty it went downhill to High Town (just after mile 6).

Here we entered a field and were met by a very friendly lady walking two Labradors. She cheerfully told us that the end of the field was very muddy and she was right. However, across the field we joined a road lined with a few houses and followed it to the Hexham Corbridge road. (Mile 7)

There was a bus stop! Margaret and I caught a bus to Riding Mill, the journey only took a few minutes, and then drove back to pick up the other two. Why not all catch the bus? Margaret and I were the only sensible ones who had brought our passes!

Changed from muddy boots we called in at the Wellington; Blacksheep and Old Golden Hen.