Bellingham to Wark and Return
Northumberland
Distance 28km Climb 200m
Tuesday 8 March 2022
Leaving the Riverdale Hall Hotel, Bellingham after a big lovely breakfast. We changed into our walking clothes and set off, turning right towards Bellingham Village. The same way we walked yesterday. Crossing at the junction we joined the B6320 and The Pennine Way. It was in March 2011 I walked through Bellingham on My Pennine Way.
After a few meters we were on High Street, walking passed the Black Bull.
You can see how windy it is today compared with yesterday's walk to Hareshaw Linn by looking at the Northumberland flag outside the Town Hall. A quick visit to the Co-op for some drinks and we were ready for our walk.
Walking back passed the Boar War Memorial we headed down Boat Road, following signs for the Riverside Walks.
We followed Boat Road down hill. Near the bottom we continued following signs for Riverside Walks (South) as it turned left, crossing over Hareshaw Burn.
Just at the end of the bridge we turned right and followed the footpath sign towards Boat. I saw the "Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care Walk" sign. I have seen a few of these signs on my Tyne Round a few years ago.
Walking a muddy path by Hareshaw Burn we followed the Burn south west. Patches of snowdrops gathered by the Burn's edge. Passed the last house the Burn joins the North Tyne.
The muddy path turns more southerly following the North Tyne.
For a few hundred meters we were walking under tall trees. Through the gate and we were in a wide open area. The footpath was flat along here. You can see although sunny it was still cold.
After a few hundred meters we were walking again under trees and bushes that followed the edge of the river. It was lovely walking along here. The path was good in places although there were a few muddy slippery areas.
Reaching some buildings the footpath turns left and at the top we walked through a kissing gate. We were back on Boat Road. Turning right and following the road passed what may be a holiday cottage we passed a sign for The Boat Farm.
Continuing along the road, we passed bunches of daffodils not yet flowering. I bet it is lovely here when they are all in bloom. We moved onto a grass path passing the farm house and into open fields.
Following the river eastwards the footpath then turns north and climbs up to Redeswood on the Redesmouth Road.
Reaching Redesmouth Road we turned right heading eastwards. After a few hundred meters the road zigs-zags.
Before dropping down a little to pass under an old railway bridge. The road is really narrow here and a sign shows the road must flood in the dip beneath the bridge. We soon climbed out the dip on the far side and continued up a gentle slope for a few meters. We were on Cycle Route 10.
The road was busy and we had to step into the side a few times. After a few meters the road drops again to an area a little flooded before gently climbing up to Redesmouth and the Redesmouth Bridge.
On the right of the road bridge we could see what remains of the pillars that would have held the railway bridge. All gone now.
Over the bridge the road climbs steeply turning slightly left then right, becoming even steeper as the road turns further to the right. At the top there are footpath signs.
We followed the signs pointing down to the right along Railway Cottages.
At the corner where Railway Cottages turn left a footpath sign took us into a field where the sign pointed across the field. The road in front of these Railway Cottages was marked private road. The ground sign took us along the edge of the field to our left, south, following by the road. The field was rutted in places from where cattle had walked when the ground was soft.
A little confused as to which way we were going we moved back onto the road. We were near Station House and an old signal box. Checking the map we returned to the field and followed to our left continued south.
Following the edge of the field right it dropped slightly. Here we saw a post very low to the ground which had the "Daft as a Brush" logo. Relief we had found the right path was tempered by a herd of cows and I am sure some bulls stamping their feet and snorting, in our way.
We could see what would have been the old station platforms as we eased passed the cattle. The cattle had made the footpath thick and sticky with mud.
Soon passed the worse of the footpath we were walking along a dismantled railway line, heading south.
An old disused railway building looks across the valley with the North Tyne below. A few meters passed the disused building and we were at a tall style.
Over the style the footpath meandered downhill to our left, down to the right we could see a tepee through the trees.
We were on the edge of Countesspark Wood. As the narrow path levelled off we moved onto a forest track and the amount of trees became thicker. We could hear a chainsaw in the distance but that soon stopped. Signs warned of ticks and the dangers they caused.
After a few meters we saw steps dropping down to our right so had to have a look. At the bottom of the steps a narrow peninsula led out into the river.
There was a large piece of frozen water between the riverbank and the start of the peninsula.
A short rest, a quick drink then we set off back up the steps to the forest track and continued south.
The track gently led downhill, it was nice walking along here. The sounds of the birds, the light coming through the trees. We could see a large building on the riverbank.
There were no signs on the building but a few seats and barbeque drums. I could imagine it would be lovely staying here.
We continued along the footpath as it follows by the North Tyne. I thought I spotted an otter near the far bank but as usual before I could get my camera ready and have a proper look it had gone.
In places we passed a few piles of chopped tree, perhaps they had come down in the recent storms and been cut away to clear the path.
After a few hundred meters we reached the edge of Countesspark Wood. A notice on the gate advised the footpath ahead by the North Tyne was closed as it was dangerous and an alternative route was to walk the road up to the dismantled railway line.
Following the instruction passed the building we turned right onto the road.
Ignored the footpath sign and followed the road as it turned left and went steeply up hill towards a place what the map shows is called Heugh.
Reaching the railway bridge we worked our way onto the dismantled railway line. Anne noticed the sound of a woodpecker, excellent.
It was good walking along here. After a few hundred meters we came to a gate, footpath signs cut across our path. The path to our right led down to the North Tyne and was the footpath that was closed. As there were no signs that we could not go straight ahead we continued on the dismantled railway line.
In places it was open and exposed from both sides and we could feel the cold. It also reminded me so much of our walk on The Dava Way. The dismantled railway line and lonely railway huts.
Continuing southerly we soon reached the track that ran west down to Low Carry House. A gentle downhill stretch.
At Low Carry House footpath signs directed us around the House onto a farm track that took us further north westerly. Dropping down to some large farm buildings.
"Daft as a Brush" signs took us along the fence.
Back to the riverbank on the North Tyne.
Following the River we walked in a big loop, passing a derelict hut. Reaching a gate where we could see a fallen tree blocking the route.
Through the gate we could see where other people had walked around the fallen tree, so we just followed.
It was nice walking along here, bunches of snowdrops and daffodils not yet in flower grew. The wind was turning colder as the footpath turned south. We could hear the traffic on the B6320 across the River.
The footpath moves from the riverbank into the fields on our left.
Reaching Blindburn we walked the track near the River.
Through the gates and after a few hundred meters the track becomes a road. We soon got our first view of Wark Bridge.
We were soon crossing the Bridge.
Walking up Main Street we had a quick look around before having a short rest.
After our short rest we headed back. Almost the same route back.
On our way to Blindburn we saw a lovely couple who told us they had occasionally seen kingfishers on the River near where we stood.
Continuing on the loop around the large farm building below Low Carry House a quick look in the derelict tin hut shows it must be used by fishermen.
Back on the dismantled railway line more memories of our walk on The Dava Way. I also thought of my friend Billy he would have loved to have seen this dismantled line.
When we reached Heugh instead of walking down the road we had walked up, we continued along the dismantled railway. Thinking it may save us some time on our return journey. After a few hundred meters we crossed another railway bridge and came across a gate showing the path ahead was private. Fortunately after back tracking a few steps there was a footpath from this bridge that led to the road.
This road led us down hill under the bridge.
Back on our original footpath. We soon passed the buildings and turned right to the entrance of Countesspark Wood. Where we continued along the same route as on our outward journey.
We had to take care on the Redesmouth Road, as traffic seamed a lot more frequent. Crossing the fields between Redeswood and Boat Farm. Three sheep started following us, before we knew it we had a large flock, very close to our heels. I am not sure if they thought we looked like the farmer or lunch. Even when we had crossed into the next field they were banging and pulling at the gate to get through to us.
When we reached Boat Road at Boat Farm, instead of following the footpath by the River we continued along Boat Road. We soon reached Bellingham where it was a short walk back to the Riverdale Hall Hotel. Where after a quick wash and change we had a well deserved meal. Really good food and drink at the Riverdale Hall Hotel we would like to come here again.
We had walked 28km with approx 200m climb.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
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