Gadgie Walks: The gadgies of Eachwick

The gadgies of Eachwick. March 3rd

(Northumberland)

This walk is very, very muddy.

Today's gadgie outing is a circular walk from Stamfordham, a village a few miles west of Newcastle. There are several ways to get there, best to look at a map and make your mind up. Today's team is made up of five, me, Harry, John H, John C and Andrew, Harry's son and apprentice gadgie. (And very sensible, his dad carried the sandwiches and flask)

The map to use is OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne. Could be useful too.

Stamfordham is a pretty village with a large green, a mostly Norman 13th century church, St. Mary's, a village butter market from the 18th century and a village lock up from the 19th century. And two pubs, one of which seems to have closed.

The name Stamfordham is Old English meaning " the settlement by the stony ford". Not to be confused with Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire where Harold took on his brother Tostig and the Norwegian Harald in battle, beat them and then weeks later lost a replay to William the Conqueror at Hastings in 1066. Nor is it where Chelsea FC play football of a sort.

Parking in Stamfordham near the Bay Horse pub which is closed.

The Butter market, Stamfordham

Thye village lock up, must have had a few naughty boys in the 19th century.

Once booted and coated up on a cold day we set off east along the edge of the large green, crossed the road and took the path next to the village school. Crossing the first muddy fields we followed Nettley Bank to Mill House. Turning right on the road we crossed the River Pont and took the footpath on the left, high above the stream and a bit on the slippery side. (Dotted line on the map, blame GPS or someone.)

The River Pont which joins the River Blyth later and then enters the North Sea.

Leaving the wooded path by the river we crossed muddy fields to Eachwick Red House and then walked along a road to Eachwick Hall.

Eachwick Hall through the trees. Built in the early 18th century and once owned by the Delavals and later by the Spearmans. Daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses and aubretia on the wall and roadside.

We walked up a lane at the side of the hall and crossed muddy fields to the village of Dalton. A lovely little village, publess but attractive. The footpath to it crosses a footbridge and there is a steep set of stairs . After a short walk down a good track we were back in muddy fields to Dalton Hillhead. Here we turned west, crossed a field, walked through a wood and found a suitable bank near Brixter Hill for a Herbie.

Footbridge near Dalton.

Not much sharing today, John H and I exchanged a cookie for a Titan, ALDI's answer to Mars Bars. Then we moved on, crossing fields to Heugh which has some ancient Earthworks, hard to spot.

From Heugh we crossed the muddiest fields ever, churned up by a herd of young beeves our boots got heavier by the step.

This bird/deer scaring device goes pop every now and then.

Once across the sea of mud we came to proper grassy fields and walked towards Fenwick Lodge. Crossing the road and passing through the lodge gate we followed a good track for a short distance before following the path across muddy fields to Fenwick Shield and Horse Bog. After walking a reasonable track for a short distance we took to the fields again near North Lough House and headed to Stamfordham, passing through the graveyard and back to the cars.