Back to Blagdon. (Northumberland ) May 18th.

 Today's walk is almost a repeat of one of our recent ones round Blagdon Estate and Plessey Woods.

The walk starts in Stannington, a few miles north of Newcastle and just off the A1. The map to use is     OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne but it is not essential.

There are three of us for this midweek extra: Me, Brian and Margaret.

                  The large and free car park in Stannington, next to the Ridley Arms and in front of the village hall.

Next to the village hall at the back of the car park is a footpath that took us straight to the A1, busy dual carriageway. There is a crossing of sorts, marked with bubbly paving and "Look Right" or "Look Left" signs but the road is busy and the traffic is fast moving. Cross with care.

Once safely over we took a short footpath to a tarmac minor road /farm track, turned right and walked a short distance before turning left on the track to Briery  Hill Farm. At the farm we followed the footpath across fields alongside the River Blyth Valley until we came to a style taking us into Plessey Woods.

We took the paths to the visitor centre, unfortunately it was closed.

                             Into Plessey Woods

                                             One of several works of art

                                     Plessey Woods visitor centre, closed today.

We retraced our steps from the centre to the sign pointing us down steps to the riverside walk. The woods were filled with garlic and bluebells, nice English sight on a sunny day. A large log by the riverside made a reasonably comfy Herbie spot overlooking the water which supported a pair of mallards and a single solitary wagtail.

            Herbie time with garlic; Titans, savoury muffins and almond tarts.

The Herbie spot was close to the A1. Once we had crossed again we walked south for a few hundred yards and entered the Blagdon Estate at the New Kennels. The tracks through the estate are all firm and permitted routes are well marked, passing the Home Farm and the nicely named Bog House as well as being close to the old kennels, until we reached the Cheese Farm at Make me Rich.

The Cheese Farm at Make me Rich. Sadly closed but takeaways were allowed so we sat in the sun with coffee and cheese scones.

  After the break we followed the farm track to the next road and turned right towards Bellasis Bridge.

                     Heading for Bellasis Bridge

          Bellasis Bridge, Hump backed, narrow with poor visibility. Cyclists take care! I always do.

Over the bridge we took the footpath on the right which took us on the edges of several fields to Bellasis Farm, and through woods. The tracks were slippy, it has been raining recently. 

                 The paths through the estate are well marked.

Leaving the woods we walked across several fields to the old A1 road, now a lay by, turned left and finished the walk at the Ridley Arms where we met Margaret's sister and her husband for a drink. Pubs have reopened for drinking inside but we sat in the sun with a couple of pints of Farne Island or Anarchy Blonde.

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The walk is about 9.5 miles. easy going, very little climbing and some very pretty woodland.