Wallington and the Wannee

 Wallington and the Wannee. February 27th

It's some time since we walked from Scots Gap, a village west of Morpeth but today's expedition starts and finishes there and includes a section of the grounds of Wallington Hall, mud permiotting.

There are two theories put forward to explain the name of the village. The first says simply that it was a gap in the ancient drovers roads from Scotland to England. The second, a little more colourful tells the tale of the villagers keeping their flocks and herds in a fold over night.  The fold was closed by a narrow dyke or gap. A group of Scots tried to steal the flocks but were beaten off by the English, the Scots failed to get through the gap.

The walk is covered by OS OL 42 Kielder Water and Forest.

There is some parking just beyond the village in the grounds of the old National Trust offices. and it's  free.

Parking at Scots Gap. The walkers are heading for the start of the stroll.

We've  been joined today,and not for the first time, by John and Dorothy. John is  native to the area and promises to show us bits of Wallington not usually seen. Dorothy is a reet grand lass from the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The walk starts at the marker at the back of the car park and after a few yards we descended to the dismantled railway, the Wannee Line. At the point where the two old lines meet we took the left branch and a little further on left the line for a footpath across squishy fields. Still soggy after all that rain.

                        Take to the left.

Turning through a rightangle we headed for Newbiggen House Farm, crossed the Cambo Scots Gap road and paused briefly at Saugh House.

The stone commemorates John Wesley, father of Methodism, who preached on this spot.

Moving on across the fields we reached Prior Hall Farm and took a short detour west to see:

The Arches. Originally built as the courtyard gateway to Wallington Hall but were too narrow for coaches so they were moved here in 1751.

Back to Prior Hall and a short way down the track before tirning south, crossing fields and arriving at the Garden House, Wallington Hall. After a brief wander in the East Wood we admired the crocuses (croci if you wish) before returning to the garden house and taking the riverside walk.

The owl and the crocuses (croci)

There are stepping stones across the River Wansbeck but I don't do stepping stones so two of us scrambled along a path on the north side of the river, struggled to climb a wall and finally joined the rest on the south bank. We followed the river for  about a mile, crossed a footbridge and settled down on two benches for a Herbie. ( Apple pies, cookies and, of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A).

 Snow drops and Herbie spot.

Lunch over we continued on the woodland walk, stopping to see:

                      The entrance to the hall's ice house. They probably have a fridge now.

And:

This marks the entrance to a drift mine.

Eventually we left the wood, turned left on what is meant to be a cycling track then turned right to walk through another wood. At mile 6 we turned east, crossed fields and reached the village of Cambo.

                 The old village school, Cambo. Lancelot "Capability" Brown, designer of English parklands went to school here.

Holy Trinity Church, Cambo. Built in 1842 to replace a Chapel of Ease.

Two more fields and we were back at Saugh House and on the road back to Scots Gap.

On the way home we stopped at the Dyke Neuk pub to rehydrate.

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The walk, including the short diversions is just under 8 miles. 

And thanks to John and Dorothy for making it an interesting walk.

Wallington Hall. The estate dates back to 1475 and it was owned by the Fenwick family until 1688 when it was sold to the Blackett Family. The original pele tower was demolished and the current hall was built for Samuel Blackett. The estate passed to the Trevelyn Family in 1777 and was handed to the National Trust in 1942.

 By kind permission of Margaret.

And a few more