Coffe, cheese and stiles

 Coffee,  cheese and stiles. October 16th

It’s been some time since we walked from Stanningto, a. Village a few miles north of Newcastle, just off the A1. There is a large car park next to that well known post walk watering hole the Ridley Arms, free. The walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Morpeth an Blyth, recommended.

Car park next to the Ridley Arms, Stannington. Needs cropping

Once booted and stick adjusted we set off south on what was the A1 main road to Scotland before the dual carriageway A1 replaced it. Soon we were on the footpath alongside the traffic heavy A1 and stayed with it until we turned in at the first entrance to the Blagdon estate, home of the Ridley family.

                   We were not after Bridal attire

From here we followed roads and tracks passing the New Kennels, the Home farm and the delightfully named Bog House until we reached the Northumberland Cheese Company.

                                    No numbers on the lottery this week, again

                                     Late breakfast spot

Having covered almost three miles we stopped for breakfast, the cafe is upstairs but we made use of the tables outside the weather being mild. It used to be possible to watch the cheese makers through a glass sheet in the cafe floor, not sure it’s still there.

Break over we walked to the road, turned right and crossed the young River Blyth over the Bellasis Bridge. It’s very narrow, only one car at a time and a bit tricky for cyclists too as the hump blocks the view.

                                  The baby river Blyth

                               Bellasis Bridge

Just over the bridge we took the footpath on the right to Bellasis Farm, through a wood and headed north across fields.

Meeting a road we turned left, then right then left again towards Middle Duddo.

 Leaving the road we crossed fields and stiles to The Villas. Once a hospital, now an estate of houses it has a single bench, utilised for a Herbie. (Latte tarts, and sweet and savoury from Mrs A).

                    The  Villas and a rucksack

Taking the road east out of The Villas we spotted the footpath on the right taking us for a short time on Catraw Burn and then across or round several fields back to Stannington and the Ridley Arms.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and data base right 2026

The walk is about 9.5 miles, easy going but with stiles a plenty, and some gates.