Allendale, a bastle and a cross.

 Allendale, a bastle and a cross.May 9th

It's several years. since we did this walk from the small town of Allendale in Northumberland.

A map is useful, OS Explorer 31 North Pennines covers the walk. 

Once the centre of the lead mining industry Allendale now relies to some extent on tourism. There is limited but free parking, several cafes and pubs  and on New Year's Eve the famous "Tar Bar'l"when people walk round with blazing barrels on their heads. Definitely not to be tried at home.

Not one for the calendar but a car park in true Yorkshire fashion.

Having taken on fuel we set off downhill towards the River East Allen, the road in the centre of the picture above. 

We passed the Allendale Sci Fi Film museum, not something to be expected but here it is:

                    Dr Who and the Daleks

We crossed the East Allen and took to the path on the west side. The path crossed fields, the walls were crossed mainly by stiles which can be difficult to cross, especially when the odd rung is missing. We were now on Isaac's Tea Trail, a thirty mile or so walk named for Isaac Holden

                    Isaac Holden (1805-1856) had been, like most people in the town a miner, digging for the lead ore. Either through recession or ill health he left the mine and rode the area selling loose leaf tea, non of your fancy tea bags.

After four miles there was some discussion on the route, which accounts for the squiggle on the map but eventually we followed the leader, crossed the stream, climbed to a field and declared a Herbie. ( Almond slices, scones, Bakewell cherry tarts and sweet and savoury from Mrs A).

                        Herbie view

Lunch over we carried on the well marked path to Sinderhope, crossed the road and walked uphill again to the Sinderhope Bastle. A young man(they all are these days) told us he was a stonemason working on the restoration of the building. At that moment the owners arrived and kindly allowed us inside to see the work inprogress.

   I forgot to take a picture of the outside but this is part of the interior. It has a flagged floor, unusual for an upper floor. When complete it may be a main residence or B'n'B. A bastle is a fortified house as opposed to a peel tower which is a mini castle, usually attached to a farm as  protection against the Scots.

Walking downhill from the bastle we came to a road, turned right and after a short walk took the road on the right that crosses Allendale Common. Starting as a tarmacked road it climbs for a long way and becomes a rough stony track. At the cross roads near mile  seven we split the group, amicably. Three of us decided to take the shorter route across the moor, passing Stobb Cross  a possible bronze age cairn and eventually descending into Allendale. The other four carried on to the next cross roads and turning left made their way back to Allendale.

We met up in the Lion House. A hot day, many people, like us, sat outside enjoying TTL or a refreshing soda and lime.

                      The Lion House.

                    Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2025

The walk is 9 miles nearly, or 10.5 on the longer route. Some climbs, stiles and steps but some great views.

              Four photographs from Nagel studios.

And mine: