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.

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

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.