Belsay and Milbourne

 Belsay and Milbourne November 6th

We have not done this walk for a while but today nine of us are setting out for a farmland walk from Belsay. To get to the start go through Ponteland village on the A696 and continue  past the Hawk Inn and the Highlander Inn to Belsay. Turn left by the entrance to Belsay Hall and park on the roadside close to the Blacksmiths cafe for breakfast.

The walk is covered by OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne and is useful although there are plenty of markers. (And stiles)

              Roadside parking near the Blacksmiths cafe.

Booted and fed we set of down the road in the above photo which leads to Beechfield Farm, which has an old MG. 

On the way to the farm we passed the Belsay woodland burial ground.

Back on the road soon, hopefully

We walked through the farm yard, through a gate and started a trek over fields, heading a little west of south, crossed a stream and started a couple of miles of road walking past West Newham farm and on to Robsheugh Farm. Beyond that farm we turned left back into fields and headed for High House.

A few hundred yards before the High House we spotted a pile of logs, some of which had been cut into moveable sections so we lined them up against the fence and sat down for a Herbie. (Little birthday cakes and Mrs A's offering of sweet and savoury.

High House Horse and a proper stile.

Moving on we walked through woodland behind Milbourne House, seeing only from the back.

                       Back of Milbourne Hall built in 1807

Out of focus woodland at Milbourne Hall

Having crossed a couple of fields we came to the village of Milbourne, reaching the road near the church.

Holy Saviour church, Milbourne dates from 1869.

Not far down the village road  we came to the Milbourne Methodist Chapel. We took the footpath on the left  and after a short climb through woodland came to open fields.

Milbourne Methodist Chapel, 1903.

 Crossing the fields we reached the farm at East Newham which has:

A well? Not in use but there is an old electric motor on one side.

Turning left on the road we reached Middle Newham and a footpath on the right  which passes a few bumps of earth which are the site of a Medieval Village. Another marked track across fields  and we were back at East Beechfield Farm and the road back to the cars. And back into the cafe for tea and cakes! And home.

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The walk is a little under 9 miles, easy going apart from some stiles which need repairing.

              Distant view of Belsay Hall. The house is open to the skies, there is also acastle and a beautiful Quarry Garden

                                     This stile is a disgrace

Wallington II

Wallington II November 1st

We first did this walk round Wallington Hall in spring when there were large patches of croci and snowdrops. It was so enjoyable we thought to do it again and again our guide is John.

We parked at Scots Gap, behind what was once the National Trust office. Head north on the A1, turn off onto A697, turn off for Pigdon and head through Mitford and Hartburn to Scots Gap. Through the village, on the right is the car park.

Another action packed car park scene

There are ten of us out today, gadgies, gadgettes and greens. We started off on the Wannee Line, a dismantled railway at the back of the car park, took the left junction, took a footpath off to the left and headed up hill to Newbiggin House and on to Saugh House.

Here we left the trail briefly to see the stone commemorating the preaching of John WQEsley on this spot in 1792.

                     It is upright really.

Back on the path across fields  we headed to Prior Hall, turned right and crossed a field to admire the Arches.

              Originally the entrance to the coach house at Wallington Hall they proved to be a bit narrow and were taken to this spot as a folly

Returning to Prior Hall we followed a good farm track for a while before heading roughly south est  over fields  and then south west to the East Wood at Wallington.

Having followed a path through the woods, walking a circle we climbed the stile (first of many) by the Garden House and headed for the road. Entering the wood by the River Wansbeck most people bravely used the stepping stones, a lone walker followed the road and we all met up by the road bridge.

A lovely autumn stroll through the wood brought us to a footbridge and a picnic spot. (Not a gadgie walk, no sharing)

                     Bridge over Wansbeck water.

Fed and rested we moved on through the woods near the hall, stopping to view the entrance to the ice house and several other attractions.

                                                   The ice house entrance

Reaching a track that is apparently only for cyclists  we turned left, then right through a short section of woodland  before climbing stiles to reach the village of Cambo.

          Top:  A dolphin fountain in Cambo                                                                                                                            Bottom: The old school house. "Capability" Brown attended the school

The  village has a fine terrace of houses built for estate workers. One is called The Two Queens. Once a coaching innit closed in 1846 when Sir Walter Trevelyan. President of the United Kingdom Alliance for the total suppression of the liquor traffic inherited the estate.

The village church is 19th century.

Crossing fields back to Saugh House  we walked the road back to Scots Gap One field we crossed once had 15 coal pits in i. now pasture. From the car park we retired to  the Dyke Neuk, a pub, restaurant and hotel.

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The walk is about7.5 miles , easy going and very interesting

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.