Gadgie Walks: Mickley, Hedley and Apperley

Mickley, Hedley and Apperley (Northumberland) April 7th

Not a trio of solicitors but three of the villages we passed through on the walk today.

Four of us, Brian, Margaret, John H. and I are having a stroll through fields and woods south of the River Tyne on a cold breezy day.

The walk starts at Mickley Square. To reach it go west through Prudhoe on the A695. As you reach the village there is a garden centre on the north side of the road and an "overflow" car park on the south. Free.

The walk is covered by OS Explore 316 Newcastle upon Tyne and OS Explorer 307 Consett and Derwent Water.

Not the prettiest car park but handy for the garden centre or the walk.

Leaving the car park we walked west for a few yards before spotting the sign post that sent us uphill across or on the edge of fields past Collieryclose wood to East Farm and High Mickley. We walked along the road through the village to Ward Lane. On one side of the fence is a footpath, on the other is a track. Use the footpath.

There is a dilapidated Gallop on one side, off the track.

The gallop, needs attention.

The footpath goes along the edge of fields, downhill then uphill until it reaches the village of Hedley on the Hill.

The Feathers at Hedley on the hill. Closed because of covid but reopening soon.

From the pub, where we had a short rest on the benches outside, we walked a short distance west. Opposite a cottage called Tinklers Gill there is a well hidden signpost for a path between houses. We followed it across fields to Hedley Grange Farm, almost the high point of the walk at 245 metres and then headed downhill on the edges of very dry fields until we came to Westriding Wood, not I suspect named for the hallowed Yorkshire third, more for horses.

Westriding on the map

Pleasant walk through the woods.

Initially the path went south then turned west and followed the Lynn Burn. Close to the end of the woodland walk is a place with the delightful name of Kipper Lynn. However, leaving the wood we turned north and walked uphill to Apperley. From the settlement there we followed the track downhill to meet the road to New Ridley.

Hindley Hall, built for a local family. Once used as a school but now divided into some expensive but undoubtedly luxurious apartments or flats as we used to call them.

We walked into the village of New Ridley. The pub, the Dr Syntax is closed of course but we used the tables outside for a Herbie Spot, sharing almond roca from Jesmond Cake Company, Club Biscuits, leek tarts and cake with mixed fruit from Mrs A.

Dr Syntax pub (Not to be confused with one of the same name in Prudhoe) The horse was a very successful runner in the early 19th century, mainly in races in the north. He was put out to stud and sired several other winners. A hard life.

Directly opposite the pub is another disguised sign post to a path downhill across fields to the nicely named Bat House Road. We turned left then right on to the road to Stocksfield, passing the Old Ridley Mill.

Old Ridley Mill, with daffodils.

The footpath follows the Stocksfield Burn behind several houses and the local sports field. A pretty stroll but we only saw a grey wagtail and some mallards on the water, although we admired the local art work;

Reaching the main village road we turned right, walked past the school and the cricket club before turning left down a track towards the river Tyne. The track goes under the Newcastle- Carlisle Railway and then continues close to the river before crossing the line again near Eltringham.

Pond near the Tyne

The not so coaly Tyne.

Once across the railway we climbed steadily uphill past Eltringham before taking a footpath on the right which eventually brought us back to the main road and the car park.

The coffee shop in the garden centre was closed, the pubs are closed, so we went home.