Newton Under Wood and Nunriding

 Newton Under Wood and Nunriding May16th

It's  several years since we did this country walk in Northumberland. Based on the hamlet of Newton Under Wood It's  a nine mile stroll through fields and woods. 

To get to the start head north on the A1, go through the town of Morpeth, almost, turn left for Mitford and a couple of miles west of the village turn right. Parking on the road side.

The map to use is OS explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth and it would be useful although the paths are well marked.

Neatly parked off the road at Newton Under Wood. But watch out for grumpy drivers who think you have taken up the whole road.

A lane on the right between the houses sent us on our way, heading east and passing a modern house with the remains of a bastle attached.

                              It's a long time to Christmas

                                  Remains of the bastle.

Reaching a metalled track we turned and headed north towards Newton Mill. The track was made of crushed stone, hence the term "metalled" which comes from Latin for Mined or quarried.

If you follow this route watch out for a post on the left just as you reach the gate to the house. It's hidden but it points the way to the footpath that runs through woodland and field high above the River Font, passing two well named alluvial flats, Nanny's Haugh and Miry Haugh, eventually reaching Nunriding Moor. 

Turning west, crossing fields, turning north, crossing Nun Burn we came to Nunriding Hall. The name means it was a clearing, the work carried out probably by a group of nuns who built a hose there.

A couple of fields later the path turned west and just beyond mile 4 we sat in the grass for a Herbie. Cinnamon sweets, ginger biscuits and a flapjack, few out today.

                 Not the one built by the nuns I suspect.

Herbie Time over we headed almost due north to the Font River. Just before the river, and difficult to spot there is a path on the left (unmarked) leading through a small wood and then across fields to Longshaws.

After crossing more fields we reached Thistlecock Plantation, turned east and walked a metalled track above Nun Burn, leaving it just beyond mile 7 to head south on a "Green Lane" to Throphill Farm. (mile 8)

More horses than people in the fields at Throphill, we chatted to several shires on the way across fields to High Red Houses.

                                Horses and ponies at High Red House.

The direct footpath from High Red House looked very overgrown so we walked back to Newton Under Wood by road.

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The walk is just under 10 miles of fields and woodland. A beautiful country stroll but because the recnt prolonged dry spell has left the ground hard it is at times  a little uncofotable to walk on land that has been pockmarked by cows and churned up by tractors.