Five go off to Belsay (Northumberland) March 30th
Lockdown in England has been eased slightly, we are allowed to meet in groups of six or with two families. The team could only muster five, Margaret, Brian, John H, John Ha and me and we are meeting at Belsay for an easy country walk.
Belsay is a small village with a big hall and castle. From Newcastle drive through Ponteland on the A696 and after about five miles you meet the village. As you reach the village there is a large gate, the entrance to Belsay Hall and grounds but turn left instead of entering and there is a small parking area opposite the Blacksmiths Coffee Shop. The cafe is currently open for take away drinks and cakes and very nice it is too.
The walk is covered by OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne
Having had morning coffee we set off. We took the farm track due south from the coffee shop. It is difficult to miss, there is a large sign saying "Belsay Woodland Funerals" and after a few mhundred yards there is an entrance to the funeral woodland but at the moment the trees are saplings.
We followed the track, ignoring the turn into Belsay Hall which is visible in the distance.
Eventually we reached East Beechfield farm with many outbuildings and a love of sheep.
The path goes through the farm yard and then turns left to cross fields. There are a number of fields to cross and consequently a number of stiles to struggle over. The public way is well marked but some of the stiles are a bit rickety to say the least and need climbing over with care.
Just one of many.
Having crossed five fields we reached West Newham, turned west for a short while, walking the edge of a field, before heading south west until we met a minor road, crossed it and, edged round a field before heading straight across another cultivated piece of ground to the same road.
We followed the road, crossing the Robsheugh Burn, ignored the road signposted Milbourne before finding a finger post on the left, and more stiles.
Robsheugh Burn
Several fields, and stiles, later as we approached High House we chatted to a farmer who was preparing to plant the field with spring barley.
He's ploughed the field and harrowed it and is about to scatter the good seed in the ground.
The footpath goes between houses at High House and into the woodland at the back of Milbourne Hall. A couple of felled trees made for fairly comfortable seating so we called a Herbie.
We shared apple pies, flapjacks, savoury buns, chocolate cake and ginger cake. Walking with gadgies, the only exercise where you put on weight as Brian says.
Milbourne Hall, built 1807/9 with stone from Belsay quarry.
As we lunched we saw a nuthatch and heard a woodpecker. Moving on across fields and stiles we reached the church in Milbourne, walked through the church yard and turned left on the road.
Church of the Holy Saviour, Milbourne, Built in 1879 by a member of the Bates family of Milbourne Hall.
We walked along the road, down the hill, crossed the Mill Burn and almost immediately after went througha blue gate. The footpath followed the burn for a few hundred yards before heading due north across fields and stiles. As the path crosses the Cog Burn the way goes round a small pond quite devoid of bird life but with many a tripping bramble.
Small pond devoid of bird life.
The footpath heads due north across fields to East Newham where we turned left on the road. At Middle Newham we headed north across fields, a medieval village and more stiles until we arrived at East Beechfield and from there on the farm track to Belsay, an afternoon coffee and, as pubs are still closed, we went our separate ways home.
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2021
This country walk is about 8.5 easy going miles.
No comments:
Post a Comment