Autumn in Allen Banks October 8th
We have chosen this walk today as there is a fair amount of woodland and we want to enjoy the autumn colours.
To reach the start head west on the A69, just before Bardon Mill turn left for Ridley Hall and follow the narrow road to the National Trust car park. Free to members, £4 (?) to non members. There is a gazebo with information boards and a bench which is handy for booting up. There are toilets too.
The map for the walk is OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.
A large turnout today: gadgies, Greens and guests invitation XI.
We set off passing the gazebo on a path close to the River Allen then left it to hrad west and uphill across fields to a road close to Ridley.
We turned left on the road then almost immediately turned right on the road to Beltingham. WE didn't visit this pretty village but it is worth a look if only for the Yew tree in the churchyard.
Taking tracks across more fields, with gates and not stiles we reached Shaws farm, having walked the edge of a field with a crop of kale, intended for animal feed apparently.
Apples!
More track and we were at Wool House and several fields beyond we came to a road, turned left then right on the track to Briarwood Farm.
A donkey jacket, a joke to go down in gadgie lore akin to "You can call me Al"
Close to the farm we found the footpath through Briarwood Banks. A steep and slippery path going downhill through woodland to a footbridge over the River Allen.
The field at Plankey Mill was once a popular camping site, rough camping, no showers or toilets but still popular. The owners have blocked the entrance with large concrete Lego blocks.
No entance.
From the bridge we walked across fields next to the river until we reached the entrance to the Allen Banks woods. On previous occasions we have climbed the steep path to the remains of Staward Peel but today we took the footpath on the right which follows the contours through the woodland and eventually emerges above the river .
The River Allen near Herbie spot.
At a point which had a good number of natural seats, mainly rocks, and about four and a half miles into the walk, we called a Herbie (Flapjacks, ginger biscuits, apple pies and Mrs A supplied us with sweet and savoury. Greens are not into sharing)
Lunch over we retraced our steps but took the footpath close to the river back to Plankey Mill.
Plankey Mill farm, sadly it looks deserted.
We took the road out of Plankey Mill for a short distance then followed the footpath close to the river through Morralee Wood . Leaving the wood we crossed the last field of the day, crossed the Bailey Bridge and were at the car park.
On my old OS map it is marked as a Bailey Bridge. Used in WW2 as quickly assembled crossings
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2026
The walk, a shortened version of our normal outing is 7.5 miles. A couple of climbs and lots of lovely woodland.
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