The last Wark of 2020 (Northumberland) Dec 28th

  A cold dry day for the last walk of the Covid ridden year. Six gadgies (Me,  John H., John Ha. Brian, Margaret and Kate, apprentice trainee gadgette)) are spending the day walking from the village of Wark in the North Tyne Valley. (Wark from Old English (ge)weorc = fort)

Head west on the A69, beyond Hexham turn right for Chollerford and from there take the B6320 north to Wark. There is limited parking opposite the Battlesteads pub/ hotel which is closed because of the pandemic.

The walk is covered by OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall, and it is recommended. probably better to trace the "Proposed Walk" below and follow it.

We had been promised a bright but cold day and the forecast was correct, plenty of sun but the temperature never got above 1C, making earth as hard as iron, water like stone so to speak.

This week's car park:

                  Today's off road car park, opposite the Battlesteads pub, sadly closed for now.

Leaving the cars we walked up the street towards the village centre, turned left and continued along the road for about half a mile before turning left (point 143 on OS map) and walking down the hill before turning left again to the settlement at Ramshaws Mill.

                  Outdoor art at Ramshaws Mill.

Having admired the sheep and statues we went through the gate on the right and walked the muddy and icy footpath along the Wark Burn. The woodland had been cleared but many small branches had been left behind making the path a little difficult.

At the end we turned south west and walked uphill across fields before dipping down again to Shielahaugh, an isolated dwelling with a pack of barking dogs. Beyond the cottage we walked a short distance on the road before climbing again across several fields until we reached Catless farm and beyond that we hit a minor road. 

                                 Shielahaugh and sheep.

We turned right and walked to Manor House where we took the track heading below Ravensheugh Crags. Just beyond the crags we called a Herbie in a shallow dip that provided protection from the cold breeze and it also had a good selection of large stones to use as seats.

Lunch spot:  Mince pies, shortbread, savoury flapjacks and ginger cake, Club biscuits and almond roca. It was explained to Kate that walking with the gadgies was one of the few exercises where participants gained weight.

Having feasted we moved on, following a track that eventually brought us Barley Hill.

Lime Kiln with a Beatle fringe near Barley Hill.

From Barley Hill we followed a grassy track heading due east to the farm at Fenwick Field where we turned north, crossing the Red Burn by means of a fortunately shallow ford to Allgood Farm. From this farm we continued north, taking a tricky path through a wood, crossing Ward Lane where we met a party of well armed men who were out hunting pheasants.

We continued downhill, admiring the not too distant view of Wark to Conshield Farm where we turned west on a very hard and partly icy farm track. We left the track near Bleaklaw and followed a footpath across fields before joining a road to High Moralee. From here we crossed fields, heading north east to a road that brought us back to Ramshaws Mill.

                       Stream near High Moralee

Just beyond the mill buildings we took a footpath on the right that took us over several  fields before we were back in Wark. It was just turning dark, a well timed walk. And of course, the pub being closed, we went our separate ways home.

                                               Proposed walk

                                          Actual walk. Mile markers are approximate

Both maps contain OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and data base right 2020.

The walk is just under 11 miles