We're going to Blanchland

 We're going to Blanchland April 10th

It's  several years since we have had a walk based on Blanchland, the village just in Northumberland.

West on A69, south on A68 near Corbridge and watch out for signs. There is a large car park, donations requested.

The walk is covered by OS Explorer 307, Consett and Derwent

The Premonstratenians, known as the White Canons, founded the Abbey in 1165, Henry VIII had it closed in 1539. The Crewe family built the village in the 18th century. The village church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin stands in the ruins of the Abbey. The Lord Crewe Arms is a hotel and pub. and the White Monks still have a cafe.

Blanchland car park. Plenty of space and a box for contributions at the entrance.

Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Blanchland. The church contains the monastic chancel, crossing and north transept, so it is a mixture of 12th century, 13th and 14th, with 19th century repairs. The garden wall of the Lord Crewe Arms is the remains of the Abbey nave.

Aftyr breakfast with the White Monks  we set off past the hotel, across the River Derwent and on the road heading south and going steadily uphill. When the road turned right we continued through a gate and walked south over Buckshott Fell, pssing several sets of Grouse Butts.

                              Grouse Butts

The track turned south west and a spot marked "Old man's Grave" (mile 2) we came to a minor road. Turning left and after about 100 yards we followed the track close to a disused flue line that took us to a disused lead mine. An adder disappeared quickly as we passed, didn't give time for a photo, shame, it was nicely marked.

At the disused lead mines we declared a Herbie, making use of some large stones left from the workings as seats. (Apple pies and sweet and savoury from Mrs A)

Chimney and dam left from the lead mining days. The little white stick marks a tub of grit for grouse.

Lunch over we continued uphill on the Pennine Journey long distance trail for a while. (Not the Pennine Way). Soon we were at the top of Bolt's Law, a height of 540 metres or 1771 feet in proper units. (Blanchland is at 242 metres or 794 feet so we had climbed roughly 1000 feet.

There is a trig point on the summit. Heading north west we crossed fields with a mixture of heather and long grass, guaranteed to trip. At the bottom of the hill we thankfully found a good farm track, followed it until it became a metalled road and stayed on it, passing several attractive cottages. At the point marked 338 on the map we spotted a finger post, made use of it and walked alongside Bolt's Burn through woodland. Leaving the path when we reached a road we crossed the River Derwent and walked a footpath back to Blanchland.

On the way home we stopped at the Wellington in Riding Mill which had TTL, zero Guinness and tea.

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The walk is about 8.5 miles one long steady climb. Worth it for the views.