Gadgie Walks

Saturday, 10 October 2026

Autumn in Allen Banks

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.

National Trust car park for Allen Banks

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.

Bowes Lyon family. Thanks to them because it is a lovely area.

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.

Bridge at Plankey Mill.

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.

Monday, 5 October 2026

Stands Proud on a Ridge

Stands Proud on a Ridge. October 4th

A Sunday walk with the Greens. Having heard that Prudhoe Castle would be open to the public today a combination of gadgies and Greens chose a walk from Wylam to see the castle.

Wylam is west of Newcastle, head that way on the A69 and turn off at the sign post for Wylam. Go through the village and turn into the large carpark on the left just before the bridge.

A map is not essential but the one to use is OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne.

Regular readers will be familiar with the Wylam car park. Plenty of space and very busy today, a Sunday. Several people were unloading bikes and setting off on the trails on the rails.

Leaving the car park we headed for the river, took the footpath under the road bridge and followed it close to the bank until we reached Hagg Bridge.

Autumn in Wylam

19th century railway bridge. The line, which joined the main Newcastle to Carlisle track closed in the 1960s. It apparently served as a model for the Tyne Bridge.

Once across the bridge we turned left, passed a row of cottages, crossed the railway line and walked through the woods before crossing a road.

The Tyne at Hagg Bridge

More autumnal woodland.

Over the road we continued through woods above the industrial area on the banks of the river until we came to another road and followed it to the castle.

Prudhoe castle dates back to the 11th century when a Norman motte and bailey was built. Given to the d' Umfravilles it was expanded to the massive stone building it is today. Eventually it was acquired, through marriage by the Percy family who added a great hall. Today it is a ruin run by the National Trust. Normally only open to prebooked parties today the gates have been opened to all. This is one reason why we came out on this walk.

The name Prudhoe could be " a projecting ridge" or "proud position". Either seems appropriate.

The castle. The last photo is the old mill, outside the main building.

Having explored the grounds and seen the displays inside the hall we left and headed down to the Tyne Riverside Country Park for lunch. (No sharing, it's a day out with the Greens. )

We crossed the Carlisle to Newcastle railway to reach the park. For engineering reasons a LNER train was passing through the station. Works on the west coast line meant a diversion.

Trains on this line are usually diesel multiples, or they carry nuclear waste.

After lunch our team of nine split. Some went to Ovingham and up Whittle Dene, along to Horsley and back to Wylam across fields.

Some of us followed the foot/cycle track on the south bank of the Tyne back to Wylam, passing on the way the Spetchells, a huge man made heap of industrial chalky waste left from manufacturing fertiliser and explosives.