Muglyngwyc

 Muglyngwic October 25th 

A new walk for me, starting from Pow Hill on the bank of Derwent Reservoir. The walk is covered by OS explorer 307, Consett and Derwent Reservoir.

Head west on the A69, turn south on the A68 and watch out for signs for Edmundbyers. In the village take the road to Pow Hill Country Park. Two parking areas, we chose the lower one. And they are free.

              Pow Hill car park. Booted and gaitered, ready to go

Seven of us out, with a promise of a dry day, but misty. We walked the footpath down to the reservoir, turned right along the water's edge and after two miles crossed the dam.

                    There were several people fishing in the reservoir

                          And one writing plays, A Midsummer Night's Bream possibly.

At the end of the dam we turned right and followed the road to a car park and cafe (mile 3) which sold tea, coffee and treacle toffee and rented out fishing rods. 

After a drink we walked along the road , turned right and crossed Eddy's Bridge. Leaving the road we climbed through fields towards the tiny village of Muggleswick, not a wizard in sight but of course you're not meant to spot them anyway. 

                         The prior of Durham, before the city had a cathedral, had a hunting lodge in Muglingwyc . This  tower is part of the remains. The walls of one of the farms are also part of the remains.

We started off down the road to the River Derwent but a note stapled to a telegraph pole informed us that it was not possible to cross the river so, sensibly, we turned back and headed for the small church.

The porch made a crowded but comfortable Herbie spot. (mile 5) A feast of oat bars, almond slices, cherry bakewell tarts and two types of muffin from Mrs A.

All Saints, Muggleswick. The original church was built in 1259, the current one dates back to 1728 with 19th century additions.

Leaving church we walked along the road to Haverley Lodge, turned left and at mile 6, after a brief look at the woodland above the Derwent headed off into the woods. The path was clearly marked on the map but not easy to find or follow on the ground. But we made it to a minor road, turned right and after a few hundred yards entered another wood with a hard to find footpath. We battled on through dying bracken and eventually emerged into fields and a climb to the isolated farm at Carp Shield. Not a pond in sight.

Beyond the farm we reached a ruined field barn, traversed some more woodland, crossed a couple of boggy streams but finally made it to  a wall.

                 Ruined field barn, or maybe house.

We followed the wall  for a mile, climbing slowly, passing Lamb Shield before starting the descent to Edmundbyers. Again the path was made difficult by tall but dying bracken, it traps your boots and tries to trip, But having crossed the Burnhope Burn we were soon in Edmundbyers.

                             In the beer garden behind the pub/YHA in Edmundbyers.

From the village we walked across muddy fields and ditches back to the car park.

Some went to the pubs in Wylam, some went home. But it's a lovely walk, lots to see, good views and bracken battles.

 Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2024

The straight line at mile 7 is my fault. We had stopped, I paused the GPS and forgot to switch it back on. The straight line miles 10 to 11? I have no idea.

The walk is 11 miles. Roads, woods and some climbs but not difficult