Matte's Fen. May 23rd
A while since we have walked from Matfen, a village west of Newcastle and north of Hadrian's Wall. (Matfen, comes from Old English for the marsh land of Matte, whoever he was)
Although mentioned in the 12th century the settlement is a planned estate village with a 19th century church, a village hall and a large green. There is limited parking near the village shop and cafe.
The walk is covered by OS explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne and OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.
Car parking in Matfen, close to the village store and coffee shop. And the village green.
Having had a morning coffee we set off, heading north, taking the road from the village. After a few hundred yards we came to a road junction. On the corner, on the left is a stile, partly hidden by hawthorn hedge and enveloped in nettles. Crossing carefully we followed a fairly well marked path in a north west direction across several fields. Some meadows, some with crops, barley possibly, (where is Brian when you need him) and oil seed. The path is permissive, the farmer has marked it by poisoning the crops creating a couple of feet of track going across his fields.
Saves walking round the edge or trampling the crop.
And after two miles we were at the village of Ryal. (Rye hill possibly) Although there are only two farms and a few houses the village has a 12th century chapel of ease, possibly built on a Saxon church.
.................Norman grave stones (possibly) built into the wall.
Leaving the village we walked west down the road, Quite steep but going down, much easier for us than for the gentlemen cycling slowly uphill.
Just beyond Waterworks cottage we turned left up a farm track towards Bingfield East Quarter. A short distance past the farm a fingerpost directed us onto St. Oswald's Way.
Bingfield horse.
We walked through a plantation and a couple of fields before settling down just beyond mile 4 for a Herbie. Slim pickings today, Skinny whips and chocolate, come back Mrs A.
We followed in the footsteps of St. Oswald for a mile before turning off and heading for Shellibraes then onward to Great Whittington. The path into the village is not too clear but once found it goes through a builder's yard to the village street.
Yes it's a lime kiln, near Shelibraes
Great Whittington
Leaving the village we followed the fingerpost's direction across fields to the Whittington Mill.
Whittington Mill. Early 19th century. (Nagelpic)
After a few more fields with well marked gates we changed direction at Clarewood and headed north east, passing a Medieval Village (where's Dave when you need him) to a small plantation, and once through that we were back in Matfen.
On the way home we stopped at The Fox and Hounds in Wylam which sells TTL
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2025
The walk is about 10 miles, easy going but there are several tricky stiles.
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